PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’ Detected in 95% of Beers Tested in U.S.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) can be found in many places, including food packaging and waterproof clothing, but did you know the ubiquitous chemical compounds can also be found in the most popular alcoholic beverage in the world — beer?

Forever chemicals have been detected in most beers in the United States, with beer brewed in parts of the country that have known PFAS-contaminated water sources having the highest levels, a new study by researchers from independent scientific research institute RTI International said.

“Beer has been a staple beverage since premodern times, when it was actually considered safer than water given the destruction of waterborne pathogens during brewing,” the authors of the findings wrote. “Breweries typically have basic water filtration and treatment processes to ensure source water meets brewing requirements. While these processes aim to balance water parameters for brewing, they are not necessarily effective at removing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).”

Known as forever chemicals because of their persistence in the environment, PFAS have been linked with serious health conditions like reproductive issues, changes to the immune system and increased risk of some cancers. They are found in a growing number of places, such as Arctic sea ice, agricultural soil and the human body.

“As an occasional beer drinker myself, I wondered whether PFAS in water supplies was making its way into our pints,” said lead author of the study Jennifer Hoponick Redmon, senior director of environmental health and water quality at RTI International, in a press release from the American Chemical Society (ACS). “I hope these findings inspire water treatment strategies and policies that help reduce the likelihood of PFAS in future pours.”

PFAS have been found in surface water, municipal drinking water and groundwater all over the United States and throughout the world.

The researchers tested the PFAS levels of 23 beers by modifying a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) method for analyzing levels of the forever chemicals in drinking water.

Some of the test beers were produced by brewers in areas of the U.S. that had documented PFAS-contaminated water systems, while others were popular beers made by larger companies in America and other parts of the world with unknown water sources.

The research team discovered a strong correlation between levels of PFAS in municipal drinking water and concentrations in locally brewed beer, which they said had not previously been studied in retail beer from the U.S.

PFAS were found in 95 percent of beers tested. These included perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS), two forever chemical compounds that have recently established limits for drinking water set by the EPA.

“Notably, the team found that beers brewed near the Cape Fear River Basin in North Carolina, an area with known PFAS pollution, had the highest levels and most diverse mix of forever chemicals, including PFOS and PFOA,” the press release said.

The results of the study indicate that PFAS contamination from one source can spread to other places and products.

The researchers called for more awareness among brewers, regulators and consumers to limit overall exposure to PFAS. The findings highlight the potential need for upgrades to water treatment systems at breweries, as updates to municipal water systems are implemented and PFAS regulations for drinking water change.

The study, “Hold My Beer: The Linkage between Municipal Water and Brewing Location on PFAS in Popular Beverages,” was published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology.