PFAS in Drinking Water Is a Bigger Problem Than You Think

Dr. Joseph Mercola - Take Control of Your Health

Briana Mercola

Health & Fitness, Alternative Health

4.6 • 1.5K Ratings

🗓️ 17 December 2025

⏱️ 8 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large class of synthetic compounds built around extremely strong carbon-fluorine bonds. They're used to make products nonstick, waterproof, and stain-resistant
A California biomonitoring study of 563 adults found that even low, detectable PFAS levels in public water systems were linked to 30% to 80% higher PFAS in blood
PFAS aren't just in water — testing has found very high PFAS markers in soft contact lenses, wild freshwater fish, and some activewear leggings
Health concerns linked to PFAS exposure include liver toxicity, immune and hormone disruption, cancer, high cholesterol, and developmental and reproductive effects
You can reduce your personal exposure to PFAS by filtering your tap water, steering clear of most nonstick and stain-resistant products, and selecting PFAS-free personal care items

Transcript

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0:00.0	Are you drinking chemicals that your filter can't catch and your tap water won't warn you about?
0:05.5	Welcome to Dr. Mercola's cellular wisdom.
0:08.3	Stay informed with quick, easy-to-listen summaries of our latest articles, perfect for when you're on the go.
0:13.7	No reading required.
0:15.0	Subscribe for free at Mercola.com for the latest health insights.
0:18.9	Hello, and welcome to Dr. Mercola's cellular wisdom.
0:22.2	I'm Ethan Foster, and today we're examining the forever chemicals known as P-FAS.
0:28.7	And what the newest California data says about your real-world exposure through drinking water.
0:33.6	I'm Alara Sky, and we'll keep this focused and practical.
0:37.4	What PFS are, where they show up, what the California biomonitoring study found about blood levels,
0:43.7	and the concrete steps you can take to reduce exposure.
0:46.7	When you hear forever chemicals, think of compounds built around ultra-strong carbon fluorine bonds that don't break down easily.
1:00.0	PFAS make products non-stick, waterproof, and stain-resistant, which is why they've ended up in cookware, apparel, packaging, and, unfortunately, your environment.
1:07.0	Even trace amounts matter because these compounds persist in you for years.
1:11.1	A recent analysis of 563 adults from the California Regional Exposure Study linked detectable PFAS in public water systems to higher PFAS in people's blood, even at relatively low water concentrations.
1:26.6	Over half of participants used water systems where at least one PFAS was found,
1:31.3	and roughly 86% still had blood levels connected to health concerns.
1:36.3	What stood out was the consistent pattern between specific water system detections and blood measurements.
1:42.3	Perflorohexane sulfonic acid, Pfhhxxx, showed the strongest
1:48.0	relationship. If it was present in a participant's water system, their PFHXS blood levels were
1:54.5	markedly higher, and in areas where it showed up at least half the time, blood levels rose even more.
2:00.4	The study also mapped likely sources. Airports, military base, where it showed up at least half the time, blood levels rose even more.
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