The study and its findings
The research, titled Hold My Beer: The Linkage between Municipal Water and Brewing Location on PFAS in Popular Beverages, analyzed 23 different beer brands, including some of the best-selling globally. The goal was to measure the concentration of various types of PFAS. The results were surprising: the substances were detected in 95% of the samples. While the exact concentrations and specific health risks are still under study, the presence of these chemicals in a widely consumed beverage is a warning sign. The research suggests a direct link between local water contamination and the presence of these substances in the final products, highlighting a growing challenge for the global food and beverage industry.

Implications for health and the environment
The presence of PFAS in beer raises a fundamental question: where do they come from? The most likely answer is that the substances are already in the aquifers used for production. Many industries, in fact, have been accused of dumping PFAS into the environment for decades. The discovery underscores a growing challenge for public health and industry: the need for greater regulation and more advanced filtration systems to protect water sources. For consumers, this research highlights the importance of monitoring the quality of the water they drink, even when it is present in processed products.
Furthermore, this research shows the need for breweries to invest in more sophisticated water purification systems, such as granular activated carbon or reverse osmosis, which are effective at removing PFAS. The beer industry, and all industries that rely on large quantities of water, now face the responsibility of ensuring the safety and purity of their products, while governments must strengthen environmental regulations to protect citizens and water resources.

Bibliography

Hoponick Redmon J. et al. Hold 2025 My Beer: The Linkage between Municipal Water and Brewing Location on PFAS in Popular Beverages Ecotoxicology and Public HealthApril 24. 

Claudia Gianvenuti C.19 Apr 2025 PFAS e neoplasie: uno studio sulle acque potabili statunitensi ne rivela la connessione. Scienzaonline

CS Greenpeace 23 Mag 2025. Sentenza storica del tribunale di Vicenza riconosce i PFAS come causa della morte di un operaio. Greenpeace: «Il governo metta al bando uso e produzione dei pfas in italia» Scienzaonline

CS Greenpeace 23 Gen 2025 Greenpeace presenta la prima mappa della contaminazione da PFAS delle acque potabili italiane

CS Greenpeace 10 Nov 2023 La cottura dei cibi in acqua inquinata da PFAS contamina gli alimenti e aumenta i rischi per la salute: la ricerca di CNR-IRSA e Greenpeace Italia.Scienzaonline

CS Univ. degli studi di Milano 18 Feb 2022 Deficit dello sviluppo neurologico e ritardo nel linguaggio: sotto accusa le miscele di sostanze chimiche
https://www.scienzaonline.com/medicina/item/3675-deficit-dello-sviluppo-neurologico-e-ritardo-nel-linguaggio-sotto-accusa-le-miscele-di-sostanze-chimiche.html

*Board Member, SRSN (Roman Society of Natural Science)
Past Editor-in-Chief Italian Journal of Dermosurgery