“Forever Chemicals in Our Water!”: Prevalence of PFAS in Drinking Water, Associated Health Risks, and Approaches to Regulation

ABSTRACT The family of per‐ and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) includes thousands of artificial compounds with a wide range of applications in industrial and consumer goods, many preceding statutory controls and commercialized with an implicit assumption about safety with respect to environmental and human health. In recent years, emerging concern about PFAS contamination has led to studies of prevalence in the environment and in the human body. Drinking water has been established as a significant exposure route for humans. Epidemiological studies have found associations between some PFAS compounds in drinking water and human health impacts including neonatal impacts, metabolic syndrome, thyroid dysfunction, and certain cancers. However, understanding of causal mechanisms is not yet definitive. This review of over one hundred peer‐reviewed scientific papers and government documents synthesized the state of current knowledge as of late 2025, focusing on evidence regarding: firstly, prevalence of PFAS in drinking water and the human body; secondly, demonstrated associations with human health impacts; and, thirdly, how regulatory authorities in different parts of the world are attempting to address emerging concerns about risks to human and environmental health. This article is categorized under: Engineering Water > Water, Health, and Sanitation Science of Water > Water Quality Human Water > Water Governance