PFAS contamination in rural California well water is threatening residents’ health, particularly in agricultural regions far from known industrial pollution sites.
Hannah Norman reports for KFF Health News.
In short:
- Researchers detected hazardous PFAS levels in private wells and public water systems across California’s San Joaquin Valley and Central Coast.
- PFAS may be entering the water through agricultural practices like using sludge-based fertilizers and PFAS-laden pesticides.
- Rural residents, especially farmworkers and communities of color, are disproportionately affected and lack access to regulated water testing.
Key quote:
“It seems like it’s an even more widespread problem than we realized.”
— Clare Pace, University of California-Berkeley researcher
Why this matters:
PFAS, or “forever chemicals,” persist in the environment and accumulate in the body, leading to health issues like cancer and developmental problems. Rural communities, already burdened with water contamination, now face additional risks, raising urgent environmental justice concerns.
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