New research from the Keck School of Medicine of USC has found a significant link between per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination in drinking water and an increased risk of rare cancers. The study, published in the Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology, analyzed data from 45% of US drinking water supplies and found that communities exposed to PFAS-contaminated water had a 33% higher incidence of certain cancers.
The researchers used large population-level datasets to identify patterns of exposure and associated risk. They found that counties with PFAS-contaminated drinking water had higher incidence rates of digestive, endocrine, respiratory, and mouth and throat cancers. Males were more likely to develop leukemia, urinary system, brain, and soft tissue cancers, while females were more likely to develop thyroid, mouth and throat, and soft tissue cancers.
The study estimates that PFAS contamination in drinking water contributes to over 6,800 cancer cases per year in the US. The findings suggest that stricter limits on PFAS levels in drinking water may be needed to protect public health.
“These findings allow us to draw an initial conclusion about the link between certain rare cancers and PFAS,” said Shiwen Li, Ph.D., a postdoctoral researcher at the Keck School of Medicine. “This suggests that it’s worth researching each of these links in a more individualized and precise way.”
Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-01-links-pfas-contamination-range-rare.html