Researchers find high quantities of cancer causing 'forever chemicals' in New Mexico water

In New Mexico, recent studies by the US Geological Survey and state environment officials have found cancer causing so-called forever chemicals in water sources.

As per the findings released by the federal agency on Wednesday (Apr 10), PFAs or perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances were detected in major rivers across the arid state. However, the highest concentrations were found in downstream in urban areas.

Researchers from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) started inspecting the water in New Mexico after contamination was discovered at military installations.

They found 10 times higher concentration of PFAs in the Rio Grande as it flows through Albuquerque, New Mexico’s largest city, compared to its upstream locations.

Researchers also took dozens of samples from groundwater wells and surface water sites as part of an initial statewide survey between August 2020 and October 2021. However, the officials said that the majority of samples from wells did not turn up PFAs.

The latest findings surrounding forever chemicals and contamination will help regulators make decisions about protecting drinking water resources in the future, said Andy Jochems of the Environment Department’s water protection team.

Officials on Wednesday said they do not anticipate that the new regulation would require anything more than continued monitoring and reporting. This is because the utility that serves the Albuquerque area has not witnessed PFAS concentrations in the drinking water system approaching the EPA limits.

As per Kimberly Beisner, a USGS hydrologist and lead author of the studies, the change in concentrations could be due to wastewater discharges and stormwater run-off. Utility spokesperson David Morris said it’s possible that at some point there may need to be enhancements at the city’s sewage treatment plant.

This comes, as the US Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday announced its first-ever drinking water standard to protect people against toxic “forever chemicals” found in many household and everyday items. 

In its first major move to curb the cancer-causing chemicals, the agency offered $1 billion to states for public water system testing.

The final rule is expected to impact around six and 10 per cent of the 66,000 public drinking water systems in the United States. Additionally, it will result in a significant decrease in exposure to the group of 15,000 chemicals known as PFAS for approximately 100 million individuals. It would help avoid tens of thousands of deaths that have been linked to PFAS, said the agency, as quoted by Reuters.

(With inputs from agencies)