Forever chemicals more widespread than previously thought

January 10, 2025 Brooklyn Eagle Staff

NYU Tandon School of Engineering at 6 MetroTech, Downtown Brooklyn. Wikipedia photo by JGunaratne

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BROOKLYN & NATIONWIDE — LARGE AMOUNTS OF “FOREVER CHEMICALS” from prescription drugs in human waste are entering the water supply through wastewater treatment, according to new research – and an NYU Tandon professor says that could be “just the tip of the iceberg.”

The report, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences journal, has found that “even advanced wastewater treatment removes less than 25% of these compounds before they’re discharged into rivers and streams,” incoming assistant professor at NYU Tandon School of Engineering’s Civil and Urban Engineering Department Bridger J. Ruyle told Phys.org. According to his research, pharmaceuticals are the source of 62% of the organic fluorine in treated water that remains after it’s released – and as many as 15 million Americans could then be exposed by their drinking water to levels in excess of what regulators consider safe.

Organic fluorine is distinct from fluoride, which is added to drinking water and toothpaste to promote oral health. Organic fluorine compounds, particularly per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), are termed “forever chemicals” due to their exceptional stability and resistance to degradation. This persistence leads to bioaccumulation in ecosystems and human bodies, posing health risks such as cancer, liver damage and developmental issues.

“What’s particularly troubling is that these fluorinated pharmaceuticals are designed to be biologically active at very low doses,” said Ruyle. “We don’t yet understand the public health implications of long-term exposure to these compounds through drinking water.”

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