{"id":254314,"date":"2025-05-14T10:34:53","date_gmt":"2025-05-14T14:34:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/?post_type=bu-article&#038;p=254314"},"modified":"2025-05-14T18:01:29","modified_gmt":"2025-05-14T22:01:29","slug":"drinking-water-select-foods-linked-to-pfas-in-california-adults","status":"publish","type":"bu-article","link":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/news\/articles\/2025\/drinking-water-select-foods-linked-to-pfas-in-california-adults\/","title":{"rendered":"Drinking Water, Select Foods Linked to PFAS in California Adults"},"content":{"rendered":"\t<div class=\"wp-block-editorial-leadin sphnews-block-editorial-leadin is-style-text-over-image has-media has-box has-media-focus-center-middle has-text-position-x-left has-light-theme\">\n\t\t<div class=\"container-lockup\">\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-leadin-media\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<img width=\"2121\" height=\"1414\" src=\"\/sph\/files\/2025\/05\/pfas-drinking-water.jpg\" class=\"\" alt=\"Close up of children hands, pouring glass of fresh water from tap in kitchen\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/05\/pfas-drinking-water.jpg 2121w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/05\/pfas-drinking-water-636x424.jpg 636w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/05\/pfas-drinking-water-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/05\/pfas-drinking-water-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/05\/pfas-drinking-water-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/05\/pfas-drinking-water-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/05\/pfas-drinking-water-755x503.jpg 755w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/05\/pfas-drinking-water-1500x1000.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/05\/pfas-drinking-water-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/05\/pfas-drinking-water-450x300.jpg 450w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/05\/pfas-drinking-water-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/05\/pfas-drinking-water-1920x1280.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/files\/2025\/05\/pfas-drinking-water-1200x800.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2121px) 100vw, 2121px\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"container-words-outer\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"container-words-inner has-opacity-70\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"wp-prepress-tag\">environmental safety<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"head\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDrinking Water, Select Foods Linked to PFAS in California Adults\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"deck\">While concentrations of older \u201cforever\u201d chemicals appear to have decreased in many foods over the last two decades, a new study found that drinking water, along with seafood, eggs, and brown rice, still contribute to PFAS exposure in adults. More attention is needed to newer, replacement PFAS.<\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n<div class=\"wp-prepress-component-metabar sphnews-prepress-layout-metabar\">\n\t<div class=\"wp-prepress-component-metabar-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-prepress-component-metabar-date\">May 14, 2025<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-prepress-component-metabar-credits\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul data-credit-type=\"By\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/news\/authors\/jillian-mckoy\/\">Jillian McKoy<\/a><\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wp-prepress-component-metabar-share js-bu-prepress-share-tools\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"icon-twitter\"><span>Twitter<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"icon-facebook\"><span>Facebook<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"icon-action\"><\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\n\n\n<p>Food has long been considered a major <a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/20920951\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">source<\/a> of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a large class of long-lasting chemicals used in industry, consumer products, and found in the environment that are hazardous to human health. A new study led by School of Public Health researchers reveals that PFAS exposure through food appears to have declined among adults over the last two decades\u2014but drinking water remains an important source of these chemicals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1021\/acs.est.4c11872\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Published in the journal <em>Environmental Science &amp; Technology<\/em><\/a>, the study examined associations between diet, drinking water, and \u201clegacy\u201d PFAS\u2014chemicals that were phased out of production in the US <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.epa.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/2019-02\/documents\/pfas_action_plan_021319_508compliant_1.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">in the 2000s<\/a>\u2014with blood samples from California residents. PFAS exposure was associated with consumption of seafood, eggs, and brown rice, but fewer other foods than suggested by earlier studies. PFAS levels were elevated among people who lived in areas where these chemicals were detectable in their drinking water supply, but lower than levels found in highly contaminated communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The study provides the first analysis of the effects of diet and drinking water simultaneously on PFAS concentrations in blood, and it fills a critical gap in research on this topic. Most US information on PFAS in food relies on earlier European studies that cannot be fully applied to the US population or lifestyle due to differences in time of sampling, diet, food production, and industries. To understand and mitigate the harmful effects of PFAS on individuals and the environment, the US needs current data on the possible contributing sources of exposure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The findings published the same day the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)\u00a0<a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.epa.gov\/newsreleases\/epa-announces-it-will-keep-maximum-contaminant-levels-pfoa-pfos\" target=\"_blank\">announced<\/a>\u00a0that it will roll back first-ever limits on certain types of PFAS in drinking water, set last year. The EPA also said it will uphold drinking water standards for two of the most harmful forever chemicals\u2014PFOA and PFOS\u2014but extended the deadline for water utilities\u2019 compliance with these rules, from 2029 to 2031.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While we observed fewer dietary associations compared to previous studies, diet and water may still be an important source of exposure in the general population,\u201d says study lead and corresponding author Emily Pennoyer (SPH&#8217;24), a graduate of SPH\u2019s environmental health PhD program, and a student at the time of the study. \u201cThese findings emphasize the need to continue ongoing efforts to regulate PFAS in drinking water.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Known as \u201cforever chemicals\u201d because they are difficult to break down, some PFAS are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.atsdr.cdc.gov\/pfas\/about\/health-effects.html\">linked<\/a> to a number of diseases and other health conditions, including multiple cancers, liver damage, thyroid disease, decreased vaccine response, and developmental and reproductive complications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For the study, Pennoyer and colleagues at SPH, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), and California Department of Toxic Substances Control estimated associations among legacy serum PFAS concentrations, self-reported food consumption, and PFAS concentrations in public drinking water supplies. The 700 adult participants were selected from the <a href=\"https:\/\/biomonitoring.ca.gov\/projects\/california-regional-exposure-care-study\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">California Regional Exposure Study, conducted from<\/a> 2018-2020, which measures and compares environmental chemicals in people across the state to better understand how to reduce chemical exposure and improve public health.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The participants provided survey responses detailing demographic information and the frequency in which they consume red meat, poultry, seafood, dairy, eggs, potatoes, brown rice, takeout, and packaged foods that are heated at home. The researchers observed associations between legacy serum PFAS and consumption of seafood, eggs and brown rice, but overall, PFAS exposure through food appeared to be lower than earlier studies in other populations\u2014a surprising result to the team. This decline could be due, in part, to the Food and Drug Administration\u2019s decision to phase out legacy PFAS from manufacturing, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fda.gov\/food\/process-contaminants-food\/market-phase-out-grease-proofing-substances-containing-pfas%23:~:text=In%2525202016%25252C%252520the%252520FDA%252520revoked,sold%252520in%252520the%252520United%252520States.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">restrict<\/a> certain PFAS in paper food contact materials.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt is encouraging that we see fewer associations with food in this study, but concern about PFAS in some food groups remain,\u201d says study coauthor Nerissa Wu, biomonitoring California program lead at CDPH. \u201cWe will continue to work to understand how to lower PFAS levels in the California food supply.\u201d<br><br>While PFAS concentrations in the participants\u2019 drinking water was on average substantially lower than previous measurements in areas that have reported heavily contaminated water supplies, the team still observed significantly higher PFAS levels in participants living in water service areas with detectable PFAS, compared to those who lived in areas without detectable levels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe connections to drinking water are concerning and support California\u2019s efforts to evaluate and address PFAS contamination in drinking water supplies,\u201d says study coauthor Kathleen Attfield, head of the Biomonitoring California, Exposure Surveillance and Epidemiology Unit at CDPH.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition to gaining a better understanding of PFAS in the food chain, \u201cmore research is needed on indoor exposures to air, dust, and cosmetics, as well as analyses of newer, non-legacy PFAS,\u201d says study senior author <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/profile\/thomas-webster\/\">Thomas Webster<\/a>, retired professor of environmental health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cOur findings further support the importance of upholding the federal <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.epa.gov\/dwreginfo\/drinking-water-regulations\" target=\"_blank\">drinking water standards<\/a> promulgated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,\u201d says study coauthor <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/profile\/wendy-heiger-bernays\/\">Wendy Heiger-Bernays<\/a>, emeritus clinical professor of environmental health. \u201dEfforts to ban or limit the use of PFAS, including emerging PFAS, are necessary to reduce their presence in the environment, including in food and water.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Consumers can make informed choices by purchasing products labeled \u201cfluoro-free\u201d when possible, she adds.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories is-style-card has-two sphnews-block-editorial-relatedstories\">\n\t\t<h3 class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-title\">Related<\/h3>\n\t\t<ul class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-list\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<article class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-article\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-article-image\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img width=\"600\" height=\"362\" src=\"\/sph\/files\/2024\/11\/ski-wax-600x362-1.png\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-article-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-article-category\"><span>Environmental Health<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-article-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/news\/articles\/2024\/pfas-found-in-100-of-blood-samples-among-group-of-recreational-skiers\/\" class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-article-title-link\">PFAS Found in 100% of Blood Samples Among Group of Recreational Skiers<\/a><\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-article-date\">November 23, 2024<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<article class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-article\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-article-image\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img width=\"600\" height=\"362\" src=\"\/sph\/files\/2025\/01\/whole-fish-plated-600c362.png\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"Whole fish on plate\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-article-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-article-category\"><span>All 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A new study led by School of Public Health researchers reveals that PFAS exposure through food appears to have [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15205,"featured_media":254317,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"bu_prepress_billboard":"","_bu_prepress_primary_term":"","_bu_prepress_primary_term_manual":""},"tags":[2052,1086,2261,3162,3280,3380,3887,5057,2624,2312],"bu-publication":[3516],"sphnews-article-category":[3519,3520,3531,3540],"sphnews-topic":[],"bu_edition":[],"media_type":[],"profile_tax":[489,400],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu-article\/254314"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu-article"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/bu-article"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15205"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=254314"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu-article\/254314\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":254336,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu-article\/254314\/revisions\/254336"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/254317"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=254314"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=254314"},{"taxonomy":"bu-publication","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu-publication?post=254314"},{"taxonomy":"sphnews-article-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/sphnews-article-category?post=254314"},{"taxonomy":"sphnews-topic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/sphnews-topic?post=254314"},{"taxonomy":"bu_edition","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu_edition?post=254314"},{"taxonomy":"media_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media_type?post=254314"},{"taxonomy":"profile_tax","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/sph\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/profile_tax?post=254314"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}