PFAS Contamination in the Great Lakes Poses Cross-Border Health Threat

Scientists are raising alarms over increasing levels of PFAS—commonly known as “forever chemicals”—in the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River, critical drinking water sources for around 48 million people across Canada and the U.S.

Health Canada recently tightened its PFAS guidelines, lowering the recommended drinking water limit to 30 nanograms per liter, prompting renewed calls for stricter regulation. Lake Ontario shows the highest contamination levels, nearing two-thirds of the allowable limit, largely due to industrial and municipal discharges.

Traditional water treatment methods fail to remove PFAS effectively, and experts warn that while older compounds are declining, newer, short-chain PFAS may persist or increase. Linked to cancer, hormonal issues, fertility problems, and developmental delays, PFAS pose a long-term public health challenge. Their ability to travel via air and water ensures widespread, transboundary pollution, placing downstream communities at heightened risk with limited protective measures.

28-07-2025