“Forever chemicals” in drinking water drive alarming cancer surge, new study warns

• PFAS-contaminated water linked to 2-33% higher cancer rates in digestive, endocrine, respiratory, and throat cancers

• USC researchers estimate PFAS may contribute to nearly 7,000 cancer cases annually

• Strongest associations found with PFBS (33% higher mouth/throat cancer risk) and PFHxS (12% higher digestive cancer risk)

• EPA’s new PFAS limits face legal challenges as states push for stricter regulations

• PFAS detected in 45% of U.S. tap water, with blood pressure risks for pregnant women also emerging

Forever chemicals linked to increased cancer risk as high as 33%

A groundbreaking study from the University of Southern California’s Keck School of Medicine has exposed the horrifying truth: so-called “forever chemicals” lurking in drinking water are fueling a silent epidemic of cancers across America. Published in the Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology, the research reveals that communities with PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) levels exceeding safety recommendations face significantly higher rates of digestive, endocrine, respiratory, and mouth/throat cancers—some by as much as 33%.

These synthetic toxins, used in everything from non-stick cookware to firefighting foam, do not break down in the environment or the human body. Instead, they accumulate, wreaking havoc on biological systems. The study estimates that PFAS-laced water could be responsible for up to 6,864 cancer cases per year—a number that Big Government and corporate polluters would rather ignore.

The toxic assault: how PFAS trigger cancer

PFAS are endocrine disruptors, meaning they interfere with hormone function, damage DNA, and suppress immune defenses.

The study identified several key offenders:

1. PFBS (Perfluorobutane sulfonic acid)

• 33% higher risk of mouth and throat cancers
• Likely due to direct ingestion and mucosal exposure from contaminated water.
• PFBS is a shorter-chain PFAS, previously thought to be safer, but now linked to aggressive oral cancers.

2. PFHxS (Perfluorohexanesulfonic acid)

• 12% increased risk of digestive cancers (liver, pancreatic, colorectal)
• Bio-accumulates in the liver and gut, disrupting metabolic processes and promoting tumor growth.
• A 2021 NIH study found PFHxS alters gut microbiota, increasing susceptibility to gastrointestinal cancers.

3. PFOA (Perfluorooctanoic acid)

• 6% higher lung cancer rates
• Possibly due to inhalation of contaminated water vapor (e.g., showering) or immune suppression.
• PFOA was previously used in Teflon and has been linked to testicular and kidney cancers in prior studies.

4. PFHpA (Perfluoroheptanoic acid)

• 10% elevated endocrine cancers (thyroid, breast, prostate)
• Disrupts hormone receptors, potentially fueling hormone-sensitive cancers.
• A 2022 Harvard study found PFHpA mimics estrogen, increasing breast cancer risk.

Gender-Specific Cancer Risks

• Women: Higher rates of thyroid and soft tissue cancers (likely due to endocrine disruption).
• Men: Elevated risks for kidney, bladder, and brain cancers (possibly due to higher occupational exposure in industries like firefighting).

Regulatory failure and corporate cover-ups

Despite the mounting evidence, the EPA’s new drinking water standards for six PFAS types—finalized in 2023—are being challenged in court by industry groups and complicit water utilities. Meanwhile, states like Vermont and California are fighting for stricter limits, while the federal government drags its feet.

Claudia Thompson, Ph.D. of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), which funded the study, stated plainly: “The significant associations identified between PFAS in drinking water and various cancers underscore the urgent need for more comprehensive research.”

But research alone won’t save us. A 2023 U.S. Geological Survey report confirmed PFAS in 45% of U.S. tap water, meaning millions are unknowingly consuming poison. Another study, soon to be published in the International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health, found PFAS elevates blood pressure in pregnant women, increasing risks of complications.

The study had limitations—it couldn’t account for individual behaviors or latency periods between exposure and cancer—but the message is clear: PFAS are a death sentence in slow motion. Will Americans demand accountability, or will they keep swallowing the lies and the carcinogens produced by chemical manufacturers and their government enablers?

Sources include:

ChildrensHealthDefense.org

Pubmed.gov

EHP.NIH.gov

C8SciencePanel.org