We should all be able to trust that our drinking water is clean, and especially that it is free of toxic chemicals. But when it comes to toxic PFAS chemicals that some communities find in their drinking water, there are some serious barriers to removing these chemicals and ensuring that the water is safe to drink.

According to a new study from the Environmental Working Group, published in the European water industry journal Water Solutions, toxic PFAS chemicals are a serious threat to the safety of our drinking water.

According to the EPA, PFAS are per- and polyfluroalkyl substances, man-made toxic chemicals that have been used for decades in a variety of industries.

Over time, PFAS do not break down, either in the environment or the human body. Moreover, they accumulate, and may be able to cause serious health risks.

“This research reveals that escaping PFAS pollution is nearly impossible,” said Olga Naidenko, Ph.D., the Environmental Working Group’s vice president for science investigations.

“Communities across the world are bearing the burden of removing these toxic chemicals from their drinking water. This crisis calls for immediate action to ensure that all people have safe water.”

PFAS contamination in the U.S. is widespread, and has been documented in 1,400 places across 49 states so far.

A number of major cities across the U.S. have been shown through testing to have very high levels of PFAS, including Miami, Philadelphia, and New Orleans, along with the northern New Jersey suburbs outside New York City.

Communities facing PFAS contamination have begun removing these chemicals from their drinking water in an effort to keep their residents safe. But communities have found that these methods, like the use of granular activated carbon, ion exchange, or reverse osmosis filtration systems, can be extremely expensive.

In Brunswick County, N.C., which has been hit hard by this contamination issue, the cost for bringing reverse osmosis upgrades to a water treatment plant to try and combat this issue is estimated at a whopping $137 million.

Many communities may be unable to afford adequate measures to protect residents against PFAS contamination in drinking water.

The Environmental Protection Agency is continuously looking for ways to better protect the public from exposure to toxic PFAS chemicals.

The key to preventing drinking water from toxic PFAS contamination, the study found, was preventing the discharges of PFAS that contaminate the water in the first place. Now, some state and local governments are fighting back by banning PFAS in the manufacture of food packaging, firefighting foam (aqueous film-forming foam, or AFFF), and more. Others are passing laws to better regulate chemicals like PFAS in a wider variety of consumer products.

PFAS Litigation

Exposure to toxic PFAS may lead to a number of serious health effects, including cancer. If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with cancer after exposure to firefighting foam or to PFAS chemicals through drinking water, you may be able to file a lawsuit and pursue compensation.

Filing a lawsuit cannot take away the pain and suffering caused by a cancer diagnosis, nor can it bring a loved one back to life, but it can at least help to alleviate the financial burden incurred by medical expenses, lost wages, and more.

Filing a lawsuit can be a daunting prospect, especially while dealing with a cancer diagnosis, so Top Class Actions has laid the groundwork for you by connecting you with an experienced attorney. Consulting an attorney can help you determine if you have a claim, navigate the complexities of litigation, and maximize your potential compensation.

If you or someone you love developed cancer after being exposed to firefighting foam, you may have a legal claim. Fill out the form on this page now to find out if you qualify to participate in a free firefighting foam lawsuit investigation.

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