PFAS Contamination in America's Water Supply

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are man-made chemicals used by industries to produce items such as cookware, food packaging, personal care products, firefighting foam, and textiles, and can cause serious health issues such as cancer, liver damage, decreased fertility, and increased risk of asthma and thyroid disease. These "forever chemicals" don’t break down easily in the environment, and spread quickly once released. They can pollute the air we breathe, our food, and our water supply. An ABC News analysis shows 43% of the 33,120 U.S. ZIP codes have had at least one water source where PFAS contamination was detected in the past 20 years -- many of them poorer or majority non-White neighborhoods. Roll over or click on a ZIP code area to see a total of water sites where PFAS has been detected, along with demographic information about the area.