Cracking open a cold one this weekend might be a bit of a health risk. No, really. That's because a new study in Environmental Science & Technology found 95% of 23 tested U.S. beer contains PFAS, or "forever chemicals."
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These compounds, linked to cancer, persist in the environment and body. The study ties PFAS in beer to contaminated tap water used in brewing.
Beers from North Carolina's Cape Fear River Basin showed the highest PFAS levels. St. Louis County, Missouri, beers also had significant contamination.
"I wondered if PFAS in water reached our pints," said lead author Jennifer Hoponick Redmon. "These findings push for better water treatment."
From Water to Glass
Beer is 90% water. Brewing one quart takes nearly two gallons of water. Standard brewery filters often fail to remove PFAS. This allows chemicals to taint the final product. PFAS pollutes water for 200 million Americans. It's also in contact lenses, dental floss, and shampoo.
The EPA tested one-third of U.S. water supplies last year. Over 70 million people face PFAS exposure. New York, New Jersey, California, and Texas showed high levels.
"Contamination is likely broader," an EPA spokesperson said. Florida International University found PFAS in rainwater.
Protecting Future Pours
Breweries and municipal plants need better water treatment. Boiling water doesn't remove PFAS. Some filters can. "Choose filtration devices certified to remove PFAS," said Jim Nanni of Consumer Reports. Effective filters use activated carbon, ion exchange resins, or high-pressure membranes.
PFAS contamination is a growing concern. It affects everyday products like beer. The study urges brewers and consumers to act. Cleaner water protects public health. For now, this research warns that even a cold beer may carry hidden risks.
"The researchers found a strong correlation between PFAS concentrations in municipal drinking water and levels in locally brewed beer -- a phenomenon that Hoponick Redmon and colleagues say has not yet been studied in U.S. retail beer," the study read. "They found PFAS in 95% of the beers they tested. These include perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), two forever chemicals with recently established EPA limits in drinking water.
"Notably, the team found that beers brewed near the Cape Fear River Basin in North Carolina, an area with known PFAS pollution, had the highest levels and most diverse mix of forever chemicals, including PFOS and PFOA."
