Are there ‘forever chemicals’ in your beer?

PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals” are a class of chemicals linked to cancer, thyroid issues, and a variety of other health problems. Lately, PFAS have been appearing in tap water, fertilizer, and now, beer. 

A recent study found PFAS in 22 out of the 23 beers sampled. Some of them had PFAS levels many times the legal limit for drinking water. The beers tested included draft beers as well as domestic and international labels. 

Should you worry about PFAS in your beer?

PFAS definitely don’t belong in our beer. Scientists have linked PFAS to prostate and kidney cancer, reproductive problems, high cholesterol, and numerous other health issues. Their name is short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, a class of chemicals that are widely used in consumer products from non-stick pans to plastics. 

PFAS are also called “forever chemicals” because they don’t break down naturally. That means that even small amounts of PFAS exposure can build up in people’s bodies over time. So even at very low levels, PFAS threaten our health. 

How do PFAS get into beer? 

In all likelihood, PFAS is coming from the water used to make beer.  The recent study found a correlation between brewery locations and contamination of drinking water with some common PFAS at a county level.

PFASs can get into this water in a variety of ways. For example, industrial sites might release the compounds into the water or air. PFAS-contaminated fertilizer might release toxins into nearby rivers and streams. They can also percolate into groundwater from the firefighting foams used at airports and military bases

Normally, when toxins and chemicals are present in wastewater, that water gets treated in wastewater plants before being added back into the water system. However, wastewater plants in most states aren’t removing them yet. And limits have only been set for a handful of PFAS out of thousands.  That means that some of the toxic chemicals remain in tap water, even after other harmful chemicals have been filtered out. 

What can we do about it? 

If you want to ensure that the beer you drink is PFAS-free, there are a few things you can do. Check with your local brewer to see if they use granular activated carbon or reverse osmosis filtration systems. These are two of the most effective ways to remove PFAS from the water used in brewing. If you drink branded beer instead of local stuff, you can reach out to the beer maker directly to see what kind of filtration they use. 

However, when drinking water is contaminated by PFAS, everyone is at risk, not just people who drink beer made from that water. 

That’s why PIRG is working to reduce PFAS in drinking water. Last year, we succeeded in getting the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to set national limits on six PFAS chemicals in drinking water. This change will reduce the risk of PFAS from tap water getting into beer. 

But PFAS is in a lot more things than just drinking water, and many breweries use water directly from rivers or streams that may be contaminated. In addition to filtering PFAS out of drinking water, one of the best things we can do is to reduce the amount of the substance being used. That’s why we’ve helped states like Colorado phase PFAS out of outdoor apparel, cookware and other products. We’ve also helped Massachusetts phase out of PFAS in firefighting foam, which is one of the biggest sources of PFAS in water. 

Now, we are working to reduce another significant type of PFAS pollution: the use of PFAS-contaminated fertilizer in farmland. Will you join us in urging the EPA to protect our food supply by banning the use of PFAS fertilizers?