PFAS in Your Tap Water Is Showing Up in Your Blood

If your tap water has PFAS in it, those chemicals are ending up in your blood. A study just confirmed the link.

Tap Water PFAS Means Higher Blood Levels

Researchers measured PFAS in the blood of 563 adults in Southern and Eastern California, then matched their addresses to local public water systems. The water systems had been tested for PFAS between 2019 and 2022, according to a 2026 study in J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol.

People whose tap water had detectable PFAS had dramatically higher blood levels. Specifically, their blood showed 79.9% more PFHxS, 30.4% more PFOA, and 31.2% more PFOS compared to people without PFAS detections in their water.

When all five measured PFAS were combined, people with contaminated water had 42% higher total PFAS in their blood.

This Isn't Just an Industrial Problem

These weren't people living next to a PFAS factory. These were regular communities across Southern California. The study shows that even routine water system contamination (not extreme industrial pollution) is enough to meaningfully raise the PFAS levels in your body.

What You Can Do

Check if your water system has been tested for PFAS through your local utility or the EWG Tap Water Database. A high-quality water filter rated for PFAS removal (reverse osmosis or activated carbon) can make a real difference. And swap out any PFAS-coated cookware for non-toxic kitchen alternatives.

Also see glass food containers for safer alternatives.

Source: Fillman T, Coffin S, Ta B, et al. (2026). J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol.