A new report is raising concerns about PFAS contamination in waterways across the United States, with at least five states dubbed places where researchers found widespread evidence of “forever chemicals.”

About 83% of the 1,602 waterways tested nationwide contained PFAS, according to a report released this month by the Environment America Research & Policy Center , the U.S. PIRG Education Fund and Frontier Group. The findings, as reported on by Inside Climate News , draw on surface-water monitoring data gathered between 2022 and 2024.

The testing, Inside Climate News reported, found as many as 114 different PFAS compounds at individual locations. The chemicals have been associated with several health concerns, including certain cancers, high cholesterol, developmental problems and fertility issues, the report adds.

PFAS have been used since the 1940s in products such as nonstick cookware, waterproof fabrics, long-lasting cosmetics and firefighting foam.…