Francesca Biagioli A new American study has detected widespread presence of PFAS in beer. How do they get into this beverage? Through municipal water used by breweries, especially in already polluted areas
Beer, one of the world’s most beloved beverages, is composed of more than 90% water, and it’s precisely this characteristic that prompted a group of American researchers to investigate whether the quality of municipal drinking water used in breweries could influence the presence of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) in beer.
The study, published by the American Chemical Society in the scientific journal Environmental Science & Technology, adapted for the first time the EPA 533 method, typically used for drinking water, to beer analysis. And unfortunately, the results leave no doubt: PFAS were detected in the majority of samples analyzed, with concentrations that in some cases exceed the limits set by the EPA for drinking water.
What are PFAS and why are they concerning
PFAS are synthetic chemicals that have been used for decades to make materials resistant to water, grease, and stains. We find them, for example, in fabrics, food packaging, non-stick cookware, and firefighting foams. They’re called “forever chemicals” because they resist degradation and persist for a long time both in the environment and in the human body.
Numerous studies have linked PFAS exposure to various health risks: reproductive problems, immune system dysfunction, cardiovascular diseases, and even certain types of cancer.
The study
The research team purchased 23 types of beer from different areas of the United States and abroad, with particular attention paid to breweries located in areas where municipal drinking water was already contaminated with PFAS.
The researchers divided the samples into four categories:
- beers produced in North Carolina, in areas with high PFAS contamination
- beers from other states with similar situations (Michigan and California)
- popular national brands in the USA
- international beers (Netherlands and Mexico)
The analyses used liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry, a technique capable of detecting even minimal traces of contaminants.
@Environmental Science & Technology
@Environmental Science & Technology
The collected evidence was clear: 95% of the analyzed beers contained at least one detectable PFAS, the most frequent compounds were PFOS, PFBS, and PFHxS, and in some beers levels of PFOA and PFOS were found to be higher than the limits established by the EPA for drinking water.
A significant finding is that approximately 18% of American breweries are located in areas where PFAS have already been detected in municipal water networks. It’s therefore not surprising that local microbreweries, especially those located near contaminated watersheds, show higher concentrations of these substances compared to large national and international brands.
Particularly concerning are the analysis results from beers produced along the Cape Fear River in North Carolina, where PFAS levels are very high. The reason is simple: the local water is polluted, and this contamination is directly reflected in the beer.
The study therefore suggests that breweries adopt more advanced water treatment systems and regularly monitor the quality of the water source used.
