Drinking water contaminated with Pfas probably increases risk of infant mortality, study finds

"Drinking water contaminated with Pfas chemicals probably increases the risk of infant mortality and other harm to newborns, a new peer-reviewed study of 11,000 births in New Hampshire finds. The first-of-its-kind University of Arizona research found drinking well water down gradient from a Pfas-contaminated site was tied to an increase in infant mortality of 191%, pre-term birth of 20%, and low-weight birth of 43%. It was also tied to an increase in extremely premature birth and extremely low-weight birth by 168% and 180%, respectively."

"The study also weighed the cost of societal harms in drinking contaminated water against up-front cleanup costs, and found it to be much cheaper to address Pfas water pollution. Extrapolating the findings to the entire US population, the authors estimate a nearly $8bn negative annual economic impact just in increased healthcare costs and lost productivity. The cost of complying with current regulations for removing Pfas in drinking water is estimated at about $3.8bn."

Drinking water contaminated with Pfas chemicals probably increases infant mortality and other harms to newborns. Well water down gradient from Pfas-contaminated sites is associated with a 191% rise in infant mortality, a 20% increase in pre-term births, and a 43% increase in low-weight births. Extremely premature births and extremely low-weight births rise by 168% and 180%, respectively. Addressing Pfas contamination through cleanup is economically preferable; extrapolated annual U.S. healthcare and productivity losses approach $8 billion, while compliance with current removal regulations is estimated at about $3.8 billion. Pfas are persistent, widely used, and linked to serious health problems.

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