"Forever chemicals" detected at public water utilities under EPA UCMR 5 — service-area-wide exposure, not just neighbors of the sample point.
Total Sites
10K
EPA UCMR 5
Search Radius
6.2 mi
Per-parcel proximity read
Agency
EPA
EPA UCMR 5
About This Database
- Formal Name
- PFAS Sampling Sites
- Program
- EPA UCMR 5
- Maintaining Agency
- EPA
- Sites Tracked
- 9,799
What This Means for Growers
PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are called "forever chemicals" because they do not biodegrade. They persist in soil and groundwater indefinitely, spreading only through physical dispersion. Bioaccumulation factors (BAF) vary dramatically by crop type — leafy greens show BAF values of 15-46 (meaning the plant concentrates PFAS 15-46x above soil levels), while fruiting crops show BAF below 1.
The primary pathway to gardens is contaminated irrigation water. UCMR 5 sampling points indicate public water utilities that tested positive — every property on that utility's water supply is exposed via tap and irrigation, not just neighbors of the sample. Check your utility's consumer confidence report and the EPA UCMR 5 dashboard. Private-well users near a flagged sampling location need direct testing; UCMR 5 only covers public systems.
Crop Risk Assessment
Leafy greens
BAF of 15-46 means leafy greens concentrate PFAS far above soil/water levels — the highest-risk crop category.
Root crops
Root crops show moderate PFAS uptake, particularly from contaminated irrigation water.
Herbs
Small leafy herbs have similar uptake patterns to leafy greens but are consumed in smaller quantities.
Fruiting crops
Tomatoes, peppers, and squash show BAF below 1 — the lowest-risk food crop category for PFAS.
Know Before You Grow — Mitigation Steps
- 1.Test irrigation water source — this is the primary pathway for PFAS to reach garden crops.
- 2.If using a private well, test for PFOA, PFOS, and GenX compounds (EPA method 537.1).
- 3.Favor fruiting crops (tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers) over leafy greens in areas with known PFAS contamination.
- 4.Activated carbon water filters can reduce PFAS in irrigation water.
- 5.Municipal water systems test for PFAS under EPA UCMR 5 — check your water utility's consumer confidence report.
Top States for PFAS
| State | Sites | Density |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | 1,103 | 0.00 |
| California | 689 | 0.00 |
| Illinois | 482 | 0.01 |
| Florida | 390 | 0.01 |
| Pennsylvania | 367 | 0.01 |
| Ohio | 340 | 0.01 |
| New York | 330 | 0.01 |
| Michigan | 318 | 0.01 |
| Alabama | 290 | 0.01 |
| North Carolina | 269 | 0.01 |
| Tennessee | 262 | 0.01 |
| New Jersey | 257 | 0.03 |
| Georgia | 240 | 0.00 |
| Massachusetts | 239 | 0.03 |
| Washington | 238 | 0.00 |
| Louisiana | 234 | 0.01 |
| Missouri | 228 | 0.00 |
| Indiana | 226 | 0.01 |
| Kentucky | 221 | 0.01 |
| Mississippi | 211 | 0.00 |
Top Counties for PFAS
| County | State | Sites | Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harris | TX | 260 | 0.15 |
| Los Angeles | CA | 113 | 0.03 |
| Cook | IL | 111 | 0.12 |
| Fort Bend | TX | 65 | 0.08 |
| Maricopa | AZ | 48 | 0.01 |
| San Bernardino | CA | 46 | 0.00 |
| Middlesex | MA | 44 | 0.05 |
| Worcester | MA | 44 | 0.03 |
| Wayne | MI | 42 | 0.07 |
| King | WA | 42 | 0.02 |
| Montgomery | TX | 41 | 0.04 |
| Oakland | MI | 39 | 0.04 |
| Riverside | CA | 35 | 0.00 |
| Lake | IL | 34 | 0.08 |
| Morris | NJ | 34 | 0.07 |
| DuPage | IL | 32 | 0.10 |
| Nassau | NY | 32 | 0.11 |
| Orange | CA | 31 | 0.04 |
| San Diego | CA | 30 | 0.01 |
| Essex | MA | 30 | 0.06 |
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