Study finds toxic ‘forever chemicals’ in beer

A new study is raising fresh concerns about the safety of everyday beverages, revealing that toxic chemicals commonly found in drinking water are also turning up in beer.

Researchers at RTI International found that many popular beers sold in the U.S. contain detectable levels of PFAS, a group of toxic compounds often called “forever chemicals” because they don't break down easily in the environment or the human body.

“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.”

The study, published in Environmental Science & Technology, is the first to adapt a drinking water testing method to analyze beer. The findings illustrate how PFAS contamination moves from local water supplies into products on store shelves—and into people’s homes.

What are PFAS, and why are they in beer?

PFAS (short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are human-made chemicals used in everything from nonstick cookware to firefighting foam. They’ve been linked to health risks including cancer, liver damage, reproductive harm, and immune system suppression.

“Because beer is about 90% water, it makes sense that if the local water supply has PFAS, those chemicals can end up in the beer,” Redmon said. “And we found that’s exactly what’s happening.”

RTI tested beer from 17 U.S. counties, nine states, and three countries. In many cases—especially with beers from small or local breweries, PFAS levels mirrored those in the surrounding region’s drinking water.

The Brewers Association, a trade group for beer manufacturers, said in a statement to WRAL News: "Water is the primary ingredient in beer. The Brewers Association recognizes that safe, clean, affordable, and readily available water is an essential resource to member breweries and that access to water is a basic human right. The Brewers Association supports actively protecting and conserving America’s water resources, which are critical to the long-term vitality of craft brewers and our supplier partners, as well as the health and safety of every community."

North Carolina beers ranked among the most contaminated

Some of the highest PFAS levels and most chemically diverse samples came from beers brewed in North Carolina.

RTI found that beers brewed in Chatham and Mecklenburg counties had the highest concentrations of PFAS among all locations tested. One beer from Mecklenburg County had a single-can concentration exceeding 40 parts per trillion (ppt)—ten times the EPA’s new limit for PFAS in drinking water.

“In North Carolina, we’ve had historic PFAS manufacturing and textile production,” Redmon said. “Those forever chemicals have worked their way into the environment into soil, water, and even biosolids applied to farm fields.”

Researchers say the Cape Fear River Basin and other parts of the state have seen widespread PFAS pollution from both industrial sites and firefighting foam, contributing to the contamination observed in local beers.

RTI also discovered that PFAS levels can vary from can to can within the same six-pack, pointing to fluctuations in water quality or brewing processes.

Reactions from consumers

For many beer drinkers, the findings were unexpected.

“I never really thought about what’s in my beer, beyond the alcohol,” said Hayden Espinosa, who was drinking with friends in downtown Raleigh. “That actually sounds pretty bad… but I’m probably still going to keep drinking beer.”

Others expressed concern over who bears the responsibility for keeping toxic chemicals out of the water—and out of consumer products.

“Most people don’t even know what PFAS is,” said Emma Carew, a law student at Campbell University. “We need more transparency about why companies have been allowed to pollute the water for so long."

What’s next?

Under new rules announced by the Environmental Protection Agency, water utilities across the country will soon be required to test for six types of PFAS and reduce levels in public drinking water. Researchers say those standards could have a ripple effect, leading to cleaner municipal water that benefits both households and breweries alike.

“We hope these research findings help lead to changes that make future happy hours relatively healthier ones too," Redmon said.