PFAS in Drinking Water Linked to Over 6,800 Annual Cancer Cases

USC Study Reveals Connection Between Water Contamination and Rare Cancers

New research from USC’s Keck School of Medicine reveals communities exposed to PFAS-contaminated drinking water face up to 33% higher rates of rare cancers. The study, published January 14, 2025, analyzed nationwide data from 2016 to 2021, establishing the first comprehensive link between these chemicals and cancer incidence in U.S. drinking water. Dr. Shiwen Li’s research team estimates that PFAS contamination contributes to 6,864 cancer cases annually, based on EPA data.

5 Key Points

• PFAS contamination affects 45% of U.S. drinking water supplies.
• Research links contamination to digestive, endocrine, respiratory, and throat cancers.
• Males show higher rates of leukemia and urinary system cancers in affected areas.
• Females experience increased thyroid and soft tissue cancer rates.
• EPA will begin regulating six types of PFAS in drinking water by 2029.

Gender-Specific Cancer Patterns Emerge from Contaminated Areas

Dr. Li’s research team discovered higher cancer rates vary by gender in PFAS-affected counties. Males living in areas with contaminated drinking water showed increased rates of leukemia, urinary system cancers, brain cancer, and soft tissue cancers compared to uncontaminated regions. Female residents experienced elevated rates of thyroid cancer, mouth and throat cancers, and soft tissue cancers. The study controlled for multiple factors that could influence cancer risk, including age, socioeconomic status, smoking rates, obesity levels, urbanicity, and other environmental pollutants. Dr. Li emphasizes, “When people hear that PFAS is associated with cancer, it’s hard to know how it’s relevant. By calculating the number of attributable cancer cases, we’re able to estimate how many people may be affected.”

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Groundbreaking Methodology Reveals National Health Crisis

The USC research team combined two comprehensive datasets to establish the connection between PFAS and cancer rates. They analyzed cancer cases from the National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance Program (2016-2021) alongside EPA drinking water contamination data (2013-2024). Counties where drinking water exceeded EPA’s recommended PFAS levels showed cancer rate increases ranging from 2% to 33%, with mouth and throat cancers linked to perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS) showing the highest elevation. “These findings allow us to draw an initial conclusion about the link between certain rare cancers and PFAS,” Dr. Li explains. The study suggests current EPA regulations, set to begin in 2029, may need strengthening to protect public health effectively. “Certain PFAS that were less studied need to be monitored more, and regulators need to think about other PFAS that may not be strictly regulated yet,” Dr. Li adds.

Consumer Products Drive PFAS Contamination Crisis

The study traced PFAS contamination to common household items and industrial practices. These “forever chemicals” appear in furniture, food packaging, and numerous consumer goods, with manufacturing processes allowing them to seep into water supplies. The NIH-funded research identified PFAS accumulation in human bodies over time, creating long-term health risks that persist even after exposure ends. Dr. Li’s team discovered that current water treatment systems struggle to remove these chemicals effectively, leading to widespread contamination across urban and rural areas. The research highlights the need for immediate action in communities where PFAS levels exceed EPA guidelines, particularly in regions with aging water infrastructure.