Study: 'Forever chemicals' found in St. Louis County beer

ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. - A recent study has found that some beer produced in St. Louis County contains polyfluoroalkyl and perfluoroalkyl substances, also known as PFAS or "forever chemicals."

PFAS are human-made chemicals used in various products for their water, grease, and stain repellent properties. They're called "forever chemicals" due to the fact that they don't break down naturally in the environment or human bodies.

The 'Hold My Beer' study, conducted by Jennifer Hoponick Redmon at RTI International, found that beers brewed in areas with high concentrations of PFAS in their water did, in fact, have higher levels of these chemicals, too.

The study tested 94 beers from 23 brands and found that a popular beer from St. Louis County contained multiple PFAS compounds, although not at levels exceeding the Environmental Protection Agency's health standards. Products from North Carolina and Michigan, however, did exceed the EPA’s standards. 

Redmon also offered some insight in the study that talks about what steps breweries could take to solve the problem, saying, “Brewers can check their public water utility results or test their water, and if PFAS are present, install activated carbon or reverse osmosis water filtration to remove PFAS-contaminated water being added to the brewing process.”

According to the EPA, current scientific research suggests that exposure to certain PFAS may lead to adverse health issues. However, research is still ongoing to determine how different levels of exposure to different kinds of PFAS (since there are thousands) might cause them. Research is also underway to better understand the health effects associated with low levels of exposure to PFAS over long periods of time, especially in children.

Consumers concerned about PFAS should be cautious of products labeled as stain repellent, water resistant, or nonstick, as these may contain the chemicals.