Forever in Our Water: The Hidden Threat of PFAS, Pharmaceuticals, and Microplastics

PFAS, pharmaceuticals, and microplastics are infiltrating drinking water worldwide. Researchers and regulators are racing to understand their health risks and find ways to remove them."

• By Jane Marsh
• October 27, 2025

Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), pharmaceutical pollutants, and microplastics are drinking water contaminants considered “forever chemicals” because they never completely break down. Environmental groups and researchers are committed to understanding the pollutants and reducing their harmful impacts.

Understanding the Pollutants

PFAS are commonly used, widespread contaminants that can come from everyday items like cookware or clothing. Some pharmaceuticals contain PFAS chemicals, too.

Alarming quantities of drug pollution in general have been discovered in drinking water. Tests identified ones like ibuprofen and acetaminophen in many water sources, with higher concentrations closer to pharmaceutical industries.

Microplastics are tiny particles of broken-down plastic and are unfortunately present in every ecosystem worldwide. Current estimates suggest plastic waste pollution is up to 8 million metric tons every year. Because it breaks down so slowly, it remains in the environment, drinking water and even blood.

How Do They Get Into the Water?

Thousands of PFAS chemicals could pollute water, making exact sources difficult to pinpoint. Microplastics largely come from human waste. Microbeads and microfibers — which are specific types of microplastics — can come from clothing made from plastic or polyester, makeup products, or toothpaste.

Pharmaceutical waste can come from discarded drugs in landfills and sewage. Leachate is the toxic runoff water from landfills, which can come from rainwater seeping into the earth and running off into water sources.

Drugs can also enter sewage from flushing. Improper disposal contributes to the contamination levels in drinking water, particularly at pharmaceutical manufacturing plants. Wastewater testing and treatment effectively eliminate many harmful substances from drinking water, but these “forever” pollutants remain largely unfiltered because of their relatively recent discovery.

How Do Testing and Treatment Help?

Wastewater testing is an invaluable part of the treatment process. Tests measure the water’s physical and biological properties, bacteria, solids, and other key elements. Results provide extensive insight into what kind of contaminants may be present for the treatment process to address.

The treatment process involves adding chemicals to the water to separate and filter out contaminants. Wastewater then undergoes chemical treatment via safe amounts of chlorine or potentially UV light to kill any remaining germs.

Wastewater testing and treatment are critical and effective processes to remove dirt, sewage, and human waste. However, despite extensive testing and precautions, the treatment process is not yet designed to remove the presence of PFAS, microplastics or pharmaceutical pollutants.

Health Risks and Environmental Impacts

Scientists are still determining their long-term effects, but research indicates significant links between water pollution and health risks. One study determined a strong connection between pollution and cardiovascular disease.

It found microplastics and other pollutants disrupted bodily processes, causing inflammation and increasing the risk of cardiovascular health-related issues. Other potential health risks include infertility and even cancer. The contaminants in drinking water can similarly harm marine animals, destroying ecosystems.

Pollutants can also greatly impact the environment and disrupt food chains. Plastic products like six-pack rings and bags already pose significant risks to wildlife, and the effects of microscopic pollution could further exacerbate them.

Working Toward Solutions

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other government agencies support research to understand and mitigate the damage of these pollutants better.  Independent water treatment firms also seek to advance the technology to properly identify and remove the pollutants.

New drinking water standards and limitations on chemical usage aim to reduce the presence of the toxins. Additionally, the National Institutes of Health funds over $10 million in research grants to universities and centers studying PFAS.

The Clean Water Act of 1972 serves as a foundational basis for pollutant regulation and chemical discharge to maintain water quality. It established the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System as a part of the EPA and set water quality standards. The subsequent Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974 specifically regulates drinking water by enforcing compliance through investigations and inspections.

The EPA’s authority to enforce broad permit provisions may fluctuate, especially after a recent Supreme Court ruling determined that regulations must be more specific to be enforced. This decision may roll back some EPA policy enforcement and pause progress toward regulating the damaging effects of pollutants in the environment. Fortunately, individuals and activist groups are still making headway to reduce harm on the community level.

Organizations such as Clean Water Action and the Climate Action Network are just a few examples of major groups that campaign for healthier water and a cleaner environment, specifically by canvassing for political action. Environmental policies vary from state to state, and though national standards are useful frameworks and valuable standards to enforce, local governments still hold the power to maintain and improve their clean water policies.

How Can Communities Stay Safe?

Though contamination risks are largely out of one person’s control, there are ways to reduce exposure and advocate for healthier community practices. The following are ways to take action:

• Purify water at home: Filter or boil tap water before drinking or consuming to eliminate as many contaminants as possible.
• Properly dispose of hazardous materials: Separate materials like batteries or pharmaceuticals out before discarding. Avoid pouring harmful liquids down the drain or flushing medications.
• Recycle: Clean out materials that can be recycled instead of throwing them away.
• Volunteer with community cleanups: Gather people to clean litter and ensure trash and recycling bins are accessible throughout the community.
• Advocate: Join or support environmental advocacy groups and petition local governments for better, safer regulations.

Though PFAS and forever pollutants are increasingly present, individuals and communities can support each other and work toward a common goal.

A Cleaner Future

The discovery of PFAS and other contaminants in drinking water poses unique risks that experts don’t yet fully understand. Research is still underway to determine causes, impacts and solutions, but the risks and dangers are clear. Until scientists and researchers discover more about these pollutants, it’s important to stay informed, take precautions and be safe to minimize harm.