Has PFAS contaminated your beach?

By Shannon Halinski

As summer kicks into high gear and more families are hitting lakes and beaches around the country, the last thing on their minds is potential dangers lurking in the water. 

Since PFAS pollution is invisible, you wouldn’t know that the dangerous chemical is in your favorite swimming hole until it’s too late. PFAS has been discovered in numerous locations around the country; there are now 2,858 individual sites or water systems in the US where PFAS has been detected. Additionally, in a 2022 study, researchers found PFAS in 83% of waterways sampled.

What’s the harm?

PFAS has been linked to a variety of cancers and other negative effects specifically for children, including reduced vaccine effectiveness and possible developmental delays. The substances have earned the moniker “forever chemicals” due to their tendency to stick around and not decay. It is now estimated that almost every American has some level of PFAS in their blood.

The main route of exposure to PFAS is from drinking water or eating food contaminated with the harmful chemicals. We don’t yet know if swimming in lakes contaminated with PFAS is dangerous, however, ingesting PFAS is unhealthy. Especially with young children who may accidentally swallow water, it’s better to avoid the potential risk. 

Is your local lake safe?

This interactive map shows known and presumed PFAS pollution around the country.

This tool was developed by the PFAS Project lab, a group of faculty and students at Northeastern University.

The PFAS pollution around the country can be attributed to industrial manufacturing, a firefighting foam containing PFAS, and sites related to waste containing PFAS, including agricultural sites where PFAS-contaminated sludge was used. For decades, polluters have knowingly or unknowingly introduced PFAS into wastewater systems or even local waterways. 

Enough is enough; we need to turn off the tap on toxics and stop the output of PFAS into our environment, and our kids.