(NaturalHealth365)  It is no longer a conspiracy theory to claim the chemicals leaking into our water supply are changing human biochemistry.  We’re talking about perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) that most people are still not aware of, yet these “forever chemicals” are quite dangerous.

Recent research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America reveals that PFAS chemicals have made their way into the water supply with harmful consequences.

The sources of PFAS chemicals tainting our drinking water

The research linked above presents compelling evidence that fluorinated pharmaceuticals are altering human biochemistry by entering the body through the water supply.

A research team conducted an in-depth analysis of PFAS levels in public drinking water, examining samples from eight publicly owned treatment works (POTWs) across a diverse geographic area in the United States.

What the mainstream media won’t tell you is that medications like Prozac and Flonase are showing up in the water supply.  When these drugs break down, they produce byproducts known as PFAS – short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances.

PFAS, often called “forever chemicals,” are a class of persistent compounds linked to global health concerns.  Fluorinated pharmaceuticals make up the majority of PFAS entering and leaving wastewater treatment plants.

The inability to remove pharmaceutical drugs from the public water supply constitutes a public health crisis

The research team found that leading wastewater treatment practices fail to remove pharmaceuticals from the water supply.  These drugs and their byproducts aren’t properly broken down in wastewater treatment plants, allowing harmful materials to remain in the water.

Pharmaceutical PFAS enter wastewater through human excretion.  As unsettling as it may be, the reality is that half of all drinking water facilities in the United States are located downstream from wastewater outflow plants.  This means compromised water is regularly processed and sent directly into homes nationwide.

The majority of pharmaceutical contamination in the water comes from four common medications and their metabolites:

• Januvia – a diabetes drug
• Celebrex – an arthritis medication
• Selzentry – an HIV drug
• Tambocor – an arrhythmia medication

While the research team did not make direct claims about the dangers of consuming this water, there is widespread agreement that these contaminants pose serious health risks.

PFAS, often called “forever chemicals,” typically include hazardous substances like perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) – both known to harm human health.  Due to their risks, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set limits on these and several other PFAS compounds.

Exposure to PFAS has been linked to life-threatening cancers and damage to the heart, liver, and immune system.  According to the EPA, PFAS can also cause developmental harm to infants and children.

Tips to improve the safety of your drinking water

Grocery store water filters don’t catch everything harmful in your tap water.  For safer drinking water, use a reverse osmosis (RO) system – either on your kitchen counter or a whole house system.  Another option is to drink only spring water from a trusted source.

For a trusted brand, try Aquatru – which does a good job of removing unwanted substances from your drinking water.  A reverse osmosis system is probably your best bet at home for removing PFAS.  They cost more than basic filters, but they’re much more effective and give you better peace of mind about your drinking water.

Another point worth mentioning … even “organic” food uses contaminated water as a main ingredient in many products.  For example, precooked chickpeas in a jar or many of the premade (canned) soups are loaded with “regular” tap water.

Be careful what you buy and use your own water purification system to prepare as much of your own food as possible to avoid unwanted chemicals.  No doubt, avoiding contaminated water in your diet is challenging, but the rewards are worth the effort.

Sources for this article include:

PNAS.org
Childrenshealthdefense.org
EPA.gov