Latest news with #HoponickRedmon
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
The Latest Unlikely Source of 'Forever Chemicals' Is a Memorial Day Menu Staple
"Forever chemicals," or synthetic compounds that have been linked to cancer and other health problems, have now been found in beer Researchers with the American Chemical Society found in a new study that beer brewed in regions of the U.S. with forever chemicals in their tap water had the highest concentration of such chemicals "I hope these findings inspire water treatment strategies and policies that help reduce the likelihood of PFAS in future pours," research lead Jennifer Hoponick Redmon saidThe synthetic compounds known as "forever chemicals" that have been linked to cancer and other health problems have been found in a popular beverage — and researchers believe these compounds make their way in through drinking water. A new study from the American Chemical Society published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology has found forever chemicals, or PFAS, have been found in beers from several regions around the U.S. According to a press release from researchers, it was previously proven that forever chemicals are present in hundreds of tap water systems around the country. This new study found that "beers produced in parts of the country with known PFAS-contaminated water sources showed the highest levels of forever chemicals." Research lead Jennifer Hoponick Redmon said in the release, "As an occasional beer drinker myself, I wondered whether PFAS in water supplies was making its way into our pints." Beer is made of about 90% water, and the rest is malt from grains such as barley, hops and yeast. The study found that almost two gallons of water are sometimes used to produce just one quart of beer. Although breweries usually have a water filtration system in place their tap water, "they are not necessarily effective at removing [forever chemicals]," and during production, tap water can potentially introduce "contaminants." To conduct the study, Hoponick Redmon and her colleagues tested 23 beers, some produced by "U.S. brewers in areas with documented water system contamination, plus popular domestic and international beers from larger companies with unknown water sources." Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Forever chemicals were found in 95% of the beers they tested. The Environmental Protection Agency recently updated regulations for such chemicals — including perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) — when they extended deadlines to reduce the amount of PFOS and PFOA in Americans' tap water earlier this month. Although the study didn't name specific brands of beer, researchers found that beers brewed near Cape Fear River Basin in North Carolina had the highest levels and largest mix of forever chemicals. Beer from St. Louis County, Mo. also had large amounts of PFAS present. is now available in the Apple App Store! Download it now for the most binge-worthy celeb content, exclusive video clips, astrology updates and more! According to Hoponick Redmon, this strong correlation between forever chemicals in tap water and locally-brewed beer has not yet been studied in U.S. retail beer. Researchers now hope that this data can spread awareness to beer companies, and that regulators will step in and try to limit consumers' exposure to forever chemicals. The study also highlights the "possible need for water treatment upgrades at brewing facilities," as well as updates to tap water treatment centers. "I hope these findings inspire water treatment strategies and policies that help reduce the likelihood of PFAS in future pours," Hoponick Redmon added. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
'Forever Chemicals' Found in Popular US Beers, Above EPA Limits
Humans love beer: worldwide, we can go through more than 187.9 million kiloliters (49.6 billion gallons) of it in just one year. But new research adds this beloved beverage to the long list of products found to contain PFAS (polyfluoroalkyl substances), aka 'forever chemicals'. PFAS earned that nickname because they don't readily break down in the environment. It's estimated that there are around 12,000 different types of forever chemical, and while health effects are mostly unknown, two in particular – PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) and PFOS (perfluorooctanesulfonic acid) – are linked to adverse health outcomes, including increased risks of cancer and birth defects. A team of scientists from the US nonprofit Research Triangle Institute used methods employed by the Environmental Protection Agency to suss out how PFAS gets into beer, and at what levels. "As an occasional beer drinker myself, I wondered whether PFAS in water supplies was making its way into our pints," says toxicologist Jennifer Hoponick Redmon. It turns out, quite a lot. The team measured PFAS at levels above the maximum limit set by the EPA, which some argue is still not set high enough to protect people from these chemicals. While breweries do usually have their own water filtration and treatment systems, these are not necessarily designed to remove PFAS. Up to seven liters of water can be used to make just one liter of beer, and whatever PFAS contaminants are in that water will probably still be there when you crack open your cold one. The team bought 23 different kinds of beer, each represented by at least five cans, from a North Carolina liquor store in 2021. At least one PFAS was found in almost every can they tested. Most contained some level of PFOS. Three beers tested in this study – two from the upper Cape Fear River Basin in North Carolina, and one from Michigan – exceeded the EPA's maximum limit for PFOA concentration, and one beer from the lower Cape Fear River Basin exceeded PFOS limits. Those limits were developed by the EPA in 2023 for six different kinds of PFAS, and they're designed for drinking water, not beer. But since there's no existing framework for how much PFAS is acceptable in beer – and, like drinking water, beers are intended for direct consumption – Hoponick Redmon's team figured these drinking water standards could be repurposed. "By adapting EPA Method 533 to analyze PFAS in beers sold in US retail stores, we found that PFAS in beer correlates with the types and concentration of PFAS present in municipal drinking water used in brewing," the team reports. "North Carolina beers, particularly those within the Cape Fear River Basin, generally had detections of more PFAS species than Michigan or California beers, which reflects the variety of PFAS sources in North Carolina." PFAS detections and concentrations were particularly elevated in beers brewed in North Carolina, California, and Michigan. International beers (one from Holland and two from Mexico) were less likely to have detectable PFAS, which may suggest that the countries of origin do not face the same degree of contamination seen in the US. "Our findings indicate a strong link between PFAS in drinking water and beer, with beers brewed in areas with higher PFAS in local drinking water translating to higher levels of PFAS in beer, showing that drinking water is a primary route of PFAS contamination in beer," the team concludes. They hope the findings will offer breweries the chance to try to remove PFAS from the water that goes into their beers, and highlight the importance of policy to limit PFAS in general. This research was published in Environmental Science & Technology. NOAA Forecasts a Busy Hurricane Season For 2025. What's Fueling It? Alarming Sea Level Rise Expected Even With 1.5°C Warming Limit Interactive Map Reveals Ocean Pathways Vital For 109 Species
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Beer is the latest source of hazardous PFAS, or ‘forever chemicals,' according to worried scientists
'Forever chemicals,' or PFAS—the group of more than 9,000 potentially hazardous synthetic compounds linked to cancer and other health problems—have been found lurking in everything from non-stick pans and candy to butter and processed meats. Oh—and in about half of tap water systems nationwide. So why should your favorite brewski be immune? After testing beers brewed in different areas of the country, researchers with the American Chemical Society have discovered the highest levels of polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in those from regions with known PFAS-contaminated water sources. The results have been published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology. 'As an occasional beer drinker myself, I wondered whether PFAS in water supplies was making its way into our pints,' research lead Jennifer Hoponick Redmon said in a news release. 'I hope these findings inspire water treatment strategies and policies that help reduce the likelihood of PFAS in future pours.' Beer is made mostly of water, malt from grains (usually barley), hops, and yeast. It's the water, though, that is the most abundant and important ingredient (comprising about 90% of the brew), and which impact its pH, enzyme activity, hop utilization, and yeast growth—with nearly two gallons of water sometimes used to produce a quarter gallon of beer, 'potentially introducing contaminants during beer production,' according to the study. Although breweries are usually equipped with water filtration and treatment systems, those do not remove PFAS. And, notes the study, 'approximately 18% of breweries operating in the United States are located within zip codes served by public water supplies with detectable PFAS in drinking water.' For the analysis, Hoponick Redmon and colleagues used a modified U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) method to test 23 beers, none of which are named in the study. But test subjects were either produced by U.S. brewers in areas with documented water system contamination or were popular domestic and international beers from larger companies with unknown water sources. According to the findings, 95% of the beers they tested contained PFAS, with the highest levels and most diverse mix of the forever chemicals detected in samples from Chatham County, N.C. and Mecklenburg County, N.C. (both areas with known PFAS in municipal drinking water), as well as a beer from St. Louis County, Mo. Two types of PFAS known to be particularly dangerous—perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS)—were both detected in some of the beers, the study said. The takeaway, say the researchers, is that PFAS contamination at one source can spread into other products; they call for greater awareness among brewers, consumers and regulators to limit overall PFAS exposure—as well as the possible need for water treatment upgrades at brewing facilities. More on environmental toxins: The truth about American drinking water: Report shows widespread presence of hazardous chemicals Endocrine-disrupting chemicals are everywhere. Here's how to reduce your exposure The 'plastic spoon' of microplastics in your brain could stem from these foods that are wrecking your health, researchers say This story was originally featured on
