A new scientific study has uncovered troubling evidence that toxic chemicals commonly found in U.S. drinking water are also present in widely consumed beers.
Researchers at RTI International have detected per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in numerous beer brands sold in the United States. Often referred to as “forever chemicals” due to their resistance to environmental and biological breakdown, PFAS have been linked to serious health issues including cancer, liver damage, reproductive harm, and immune dysfunction.
“Nearly every beer we tested had at least one detectable PFAS compound in it,” said Jennifer Hoponick Redmon, lead author of the study and senior director of environmental health and water quality at RTI. “And that’s directly tied to the municipal water used during the brewing process.”
Published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology, the study is the first to adapt a drinking water analysis technique to evaluate beer, highlighting how local water contamination can migrate into consumer products.
PFAS are synthetic compounds widely used in industrial and consumer applications—from nonstick cookware to firefighting foam. Because beer consists of approximately 90% water, contamination in the water supply is directly reflected in the finished product.
Researchers tested beers from 17 counties across nine U.S. states and three countries. In many instances, beers from smaller or local breweries contained PFAS levels that closely mirrored those found in the region’s drinking water.
The Brewers Association, a national trade group representing beer manufacturers, responded to the findings by emphasizing the fundamental importance of clean water to brewing. In a statement to WRAL News, the group said: “Water is the primary ingredient in beer… The Brewers Association supports actively protecting and conserving America’s water resources… critical to the long-term vitality of craft brewers… and the health and safety of every community.”
North Carolina Among Most Affected
The study identified North Carolina as one of the most heavily impacted states. Beers brewed in Chatham and Mecklenburg counties showed the highest PFAS concentrations of all samples tested. One beer from Mecklenburg County contained more than 40 parts per trillion (ppt) of PFAS in a single can—ten times the Environmental Protection Agency’s new limit for PFAS in drinking water.
“In North Carolina, we’ve had historic PFAS manufacturing and textile production,” said Redmon. “Those forever chemicals have worked their way into the environment—into soil, water, and even biosolids applied to farm fields.”
The Cape Fear River Basin and other parts of the state have experienced widespread contamination from industrial discharges and firefighting foam, contributing to elevated PFAS levels in both water and beer.
RTI researchers also found chemical inconsistencies even within the same six-pack, suggesting fluctuations in water quality or brewing conditions.
Public Reaction and Policy Implications
The study’s findings have generated mixed reactions among consumers. Some expressed concern, while others indicated they were unlikely to change their drinking habits.
“I never really thought about what’s in my beer, beyond the alcohol,” said one Raleigh resident. “That actually sounds pretty bad… but I’m probably still going to keep drinking beer.”
Others called for greater accountability and public education.
“Most people don’t even know what PFAS is,” said Emma Carew, a law student in North Carolina. “We need more transparency about why companies have been allowed to pollute the water for so long.”
In response to growing awareness, the EPA recently announced new rules requiring water utilities nationwide to test for six types of PFAS and reduce levels in public supplies. Experts believe these measures could improve the safety of not just drinking water, but also the products that depend on it.
“We hope these research findings help lead to changes that make future happy hours relatively healthier ones too,” Redmon added.
You Might Be Interested In:
