NJIT study finds overlooked 'forever chemicals' widespread in New Jersey tap water and bottled beverages
This is the first statewide U.S. monitoring study of ultra-short-chain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
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(L to R) Ph.D. students Ebenezer Etsiwah, Bishnu Pandey, Santhoshi Chitthaluri, and Dr. Siwei Gu, Postdoctoral Research Associate. All four are members of the Emerging Contaminants Research Laboratory at NJIT.
view moreCredit: Courtesy of New Jersey Institute of Technology
Researchers at New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) have found that a largely overlooked class of "forever chemicals" is widespread in New Jersey drinking water and commercially available bottled beverages, raising new questions about how these persistent contaminants are monitored and potentially introduced into everyday products.
In what researchers describe as the first statewide U.S. monitoring study of ultra-short-chain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), the NJIT team detected trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) in more than 91% of tap-water samples collected across all 21 New Jersey counties and nearly 80% of bottled beverages tested. The study also revealed substantially higher concentrations in certain sports drinks and electrolyte waters than in plain bottled water, suggesting that ingredients or manufacturing processes may contribute to contamination beyond the original water source.
The findings, published in Environmental Science & Technology Letters, highlight a significant gap in conventional PFAS monitoring. While chemicals such as PFOA and PFOS have received widespread regulatory attention by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency, ultra-short-chain PFAS have largely escaped routine testing because their small molecular size and chemical properties make them difficult to detect using established methods.
"Most people have heard of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) because they have been the focus of regulations and water testing for years. TFA is different," said Siwei Gu, a postdoctoral researcher in NJIT's Emerging Contaminants Research Laboratory and lead author of the study. "It is much smaller in molecular size, highly soluble in water, and does not bind strongly to many filter materials that work well for capturing traditional PFAS."
To investigate these often-overlooked compounds, researchers analyzed 113 samples, including 70 tap-water samples from across New Jersey and 43 commercially available bottled beverages. Using a specialized laboratory method, they screened for five ultra-short-chain PFAS that can be difficult to measure through conventional testing procedures.
TFA was by far the most frequently detected compound, appearing in 64 of 70 tap-water samples and 34 of 43 bottled beverages. Although concentrations varied geographically, at least one tap-water sample from every New Jersey county contained detectable TFA. The study found a median concentration of 352 nanograms per liter among tap-water samples with detectable TFA, with higher county averages observed in several northern and northeastern counties, such as Essex, Hudson and Bergen.
"We anticipated finding trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) in drinking water, as previous studies in Europe had reported its widespread occurrence," said Arjun Venkatesan, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering at NJIT and director of the Emerging Contaminants Research Laboratory. "However, what surprised us was how frequently it was detected, occurring in 64 of the 70 tap water samples collected across New Jersey and 34 of the 43 bottled beverages analyzed."
Bottled beverages reveal unexpected differences
One of the study's most notable findings involved the considerable differences between plain bottled water and beverages containing added ingredients.
Among the 43 bottled beverages tested, the 12 formulated beverages had an average TFA concentration approximately 52 times higher than the 31 bottled waters. Concentrations in some electrolyte waters and sports drinks were particularly elevated, with the highest measurement reaching 94,100 nanograms per liter. By comparison, the highest TFA concentration detected in New Jersey tap water was 1,360 nanograms per liter.
Researchers have not determined why some formulated beverages contained substantially higher concentrations. Unlike plain bottled water, these products may include sweeteners, flavorings, electrolytes and other additives that could introduce additional sources of TFA.
"One possible explanation is that ingredients used in these beverages or certain manufacturing processes may be contributing to the elevated TFA concentrations," Gu said. "However, we did not analyze individual ingredients or investigate the manufacturing processes, so we cannot definitively identify the sources of TFA in these products."
TFA can enter the environment through multiple pathways, including the breakdown of certain fluorinated refrigerants, pesticides and other chemicals. It can subsequently be transported through precipitation into surface water and drinking-water sources. Its persistence and high mobility also make it challenging to remove through conventional water treatment.
The researchers emphasize that the study represents an initial snapshot of contamination rather than a comprehensive assessment of New Jersey's drinking-water systems. Additional sampling will be needed to determine how concentrations vary over time and to identify the sources responsible for geographic differences.
What the findings mean for water safety
Although the findings demonstrate widespread exposure potential, researchers caution that detecting TFA does not necessarily establish an immediate health risk. Scientific understanding of the compound's long-term effects in humans remains limited, even as some toxicological studies have raised concerns about potential developmental and reproductive effects.
"I think it is important for consumers to understand that detecting a chemical in drinking water or beverages does not necessarily mean there is an immediate health risk," Venkatesan said. "The potential health implications depend on the concentration, frequency of exposure, and how much of the chemical is consumed over time."
The study also points to challenges facing water utilities and regulators. Conventional PFAS treatment technologies, including granular activated carbon and ion-exchange resins, are generally less effective at capturing TFA than many longer-chain PFAS compounds. Specialized testing methods are also needed to reliably measure these smaller contaminants.
Researchers say expanding monitoring efforts will be essential to understanding the extent of contamination and determining whether additional treatment measures are warranted.
At NJIT, the Emerging Contaminants Research Laboratory is already investigating technologies designed to improve PFAS removal, including pretreatment methods that enhance the ability of activated carbon to capture difficult-to-remove PFAS.
The team plans to expand monitoring beyond New Jersey, investigate potential sources of TFA and examine how concentrations vary across drinking-water supplies and treatment systems. Ultimately, the researchers hope to connect improved detection with more effective, affordable technologies that utilities can use to address emerging contaminants.
The study, "Occurrence of Ultra-Short Chain PFASs in Bottled Beverages and New Jersey Tap Water," was authored by Siwei Gu, Santhoshi Chitthaluri, Ebenezer Etsiwah, Bishnu Pandey and Arjun K. Venkatesan. The research was supported in part by a faculty start-up grant from NJIT.
Journal
Environmental Science & Technology Letters
Method of Research
Observational study
Subject of Research
Not applicable
Article Title
Occurrence of Ultra-Short Chain PFASs in Bottled Beverages and New Jersey Tap Water
Study finds diet and culture influences Hispanic children’s exposure to 'forever chemicals'
George Mason University’s Northern Virginia study is among the first to explore potential sources of PFAS exposure in children from primarily Central American families.
George Mason University
Participation in school meal programs was linked to lower blood concentrations of certain PFAS, pollutants commonly known as “forever chemicals,” in a new study of Hispanic children in Northern Virginia.
The George Mason University-led study also found that eating more animal-based foods was associated with higher levels of some PFAS. Stronger English skills, being born in the United States, and having mothers who had lived in the country longer were associated with lower exposure to certain PFAS.
Published in the Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology, the study is among the first to investigate potential sources of PFAS exposure in children from primarily Central American households.
Rooshna Mohsin, a recent PhD graduate of the College of Public Health, led the research with her mentor, Professor Michael S. Bloom of the Department of Global and Community Health.
“If we want to help families reduce their exposure to PFAS, we need to understand what they eat and the resources available to them,” said Mohsin, who earned her PhD in public health with a concentration in epidemiology and is now a postdoctoral research associate at Washington University in St. Louis. “This study highlights the necessity of community-informed interventions—such as with dietary habits—to mitigate exposure.”
Why it matters
PFAS, short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are manufactured chemicals that have been used in products like nonstick cookware, stain-resistant fabrics, and grease-resistant food packaging. But these “forever chemicals” can also get into food and drinking water, and some stay in the body for years.
Previous research has linked early-life exposure to certain PFAS with weaker vaccine responses, asthma, and changes in metabolism and thyroid function. Some PFAS are also considered to be carcinogens.
The new study didn’t examine health impacts in children, but it helps identify potential sources of PFAS to investigate and opportunities to limit exposure.
More study details
The researchers tested blood samples from 106 Hispanic children ages 4–11 in Prince William County, Virginia, most of whom had obesity and were participating in a family lifestyle program. Among mothers who reported their birthplace, about two-thirds were born in El Salvador.
Key findings included:
• School meals were consistently associated with lower PFAS levels. Children receiving free or reduced-price lunches had lower concentrations in their blood of five PFAS. School breakfast participation was associated with lower levels of another PFAS. The authors suggest the provided meals may cut down reliance on individually packaged foods, though they didn’t directly test that explanation.
• Language and immigration history also mattered. Children with stronger English skills had lower levels of one PFAS. For another chemical called PFBS, U.S.-born Hispanic children had 75% lower odds of detection than Hispanic children born elsewhere. Each additional year their mothers had lived in the United States was associated with 8% lower odds of detecting PFBS.
• Food associations varied by chemical. Greater cheese consumption was linked to higher levels of one PFAS, while greater fish consumption was linked to a higher likelihood of detecting another. Burrito consumption was associated with higher total PFAS.
The study offers a snapshot of exposure, so it can’t show whether particular foods or family circumstances caused the differences in PFAS levels. And because it included a small group of children from one county, the findings may not apply to other communities.
Larger studies following children over time are needed to understand these relationships, the researchers say. They also call for studying drinking water, household products, and culturally specific foods missing from the questionnaire.
Mohsin and Bloom’s coauthors at George Mason University include faculty Jenna R. Krall and alum Lameck Chiwaka of the Department of Global and Community Health; Allison J. McKay of the Department of Nutrition and Food Studies; Margaret T. Jones of the College of Education and Human Development; Robyn Mehlenbeck of the Department of Psychology; Virginia Espina and Veronica G. Sanchez of the Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine.
Additional researchers include Roy R. Gerona and Daniel Tomer of the University of California, San Francisco, and Sina Gallo of the University of Georgia.
Journal
Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology
Subject of Research
People
Article Title
Dietary and social predictors of PFAS exposure in Hispanic children from Northern Virginia
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