The presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in public water systems has raised and resulted in serious concerns for health and the environment across the United States. However, the risks do not affect everyone in the same way. Due to historic and structural inequalities in environmental governance, housing, and infrastructure, low-income communities and communities of color have historically experienced exposure to PFAS contamination.
PFAS (or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a group of man-made chemicals that have been used in many industrial and consumer products due to their water, oil, and heat-resisting properties. Because PFAS do not break down in the environment or the human body (the nickname "forever chemicals"), they have been the source of numerous health problems, such as; cancer, thyroid disease, liver damage, developmental issues, and mental health considerations.
A 2022 study published in Environmental Health Perspectives found that drinking water systems in areas with high percentages of Black and Hispanic residents were more likely to be contaminated with PFAS. Similarly, the article "Socioeconomic Disparities in PFAS Exposure in Public Water Systems" indicates that toxic drinking water systems are least likely to be found in wealthier, majority white communities.
A study published in ACS ES&T Water in 2024 examined pesticide applications near public supply wells that could be PFAS contaminated, finding that PFAS_contaminated pesticides were more frequently applied near marginalized populations and people of color. A 2023 study titled, PFAS Exposure, Mental Health, and Environmental Justice, it was found that communities with known PFAS contamination, experienced a heightened rate of mental health issues, particularly among those who had limited access to healthcare or mental health services.