Alabama has second-most sites with PFC-contaminated drinking water in U.S.: Study.
Alabama is tied with New Hampshire for having the second-highest number of sites where the drinking water supply is contaminated with a certain type of toxic chemical, according to a new study.
Though the federal government does not regulate the appearance of highly fluorinated toxic chemicals known as PFCs or PFASs in drinking water, the chemicals are linked to a range of maladies including cancer and thyroid disease.
And they were found in the drinking supply at five sites in northern Alabama, according to the research study by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) and Northeastern University, which was released Thursday.
"New Jersey has the most known contamination sites with six, followed by Alabama and New Hampshire with five each and New York with four," the EWG, a national advocacy group, wrote in a statement.
"At many of the sites, contamination levels are extremely high."
David Andrews, senior scientist at the EWG, said the fact that Alabama ranks so high on the list is "is partially due to the presence of a large manufacturing facility in the state," a reference to the 3M Co manufacturing facility in Decatur, WBHM reported.
Contaminated water sites were also reported in Etowah County and Fort Payne, according to the study.