A new study confirmed the presence of PFAS, or “forever chemicals,” in the drinking water of Orange County, California, raising concerns about residents’ health and the future of studying their impact.
What’s happening?
The University of California, Irvine published a study on individuals living in the Southern California county between 2000 and 2019. That range included the first time PFAS were detected in the water in 2013 after the EPA first required testing.
PFAS have been linked to high cholesterol, decreased immune system response, and decreased vaccine response, as well as increased risk of kidney, prostate, and testicular cancer. The study’s results further back up those established links.
The study also noted data from the Irvine Ranch Water District (IRWD), which had a PFOA level of 14.8 parts per trillion and a PFOS level of 22.8 parts per trillion, exceeding the maximum level of four parts per trillion established by the EPA…