A new study has found that most beers brewed in the United States contain PFAS, a group of human-made chemicals often called “forever chemicals” because they don’t easily break down in the environment or the human body.
Researchers discovered that beers brewed in areas with known PFAS-contaminated water sources had the highest levels of these substances.
PFAS, which stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are widely used in products for their water-, oil-, and stain-resistant properties.
Over time, they’ve made their way into surface water, groundwater, and even municipal drinking water across the country. Now, researchers have found they’re also making their way into the beer we drink.
The study, published in Environmental Science & Technology, was led by Jennifer Hoponick Redmon, who wanted to find out whether these persistent chemicals are ending up in beer.
“As an occasional beer drinker myself, I wondered whether PFAS in water supplies was making its way into our pints,” she said.
Her hope is that the findings will lead to improved water treatment strategies and stronger policies to reduce PFAS in consumer products.
To conduct the research, the team adapted a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) testing method used for measuring PFAS in drinking water.
They tested 23 different beers, including those from small breweries located in areas with known PFAS pollution, as well as popular beers from large companies where water source information was not disclosed.
The results were concerning. PFAS were found in 95% of the beers tested. This included well-known forever chemicals such as PFOS (perfluorooctanesulfonate) and PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid), both of which have recently been given strict safety limits by the EPA for drinking water.
The highest levels of PFAS were found in beers brewed near the Cape Fear River Basin in North Carolina, a region already known for PFAS pollution.
The study shows that even though breweries use water filtration systems, these systems may not be equipped to remove PFAS. This means the chemicals in the local water supply can end up in the final product.
Researchers say this study should be a wake-up call. PFAS contamination doesn’t just affect drinking water—it can spread into food and beverages made with that water, too. They recommend that both municipal water systems and breweries consider updating their water treatment methods to keep up with growing concerns over PFAS exposure.
In the meantime, consumers and brewers alike should be aware that the purity of local water can have far-reaching effects—right down to what’s in your glass of beer.
