Over 40% of Minnesota waters that have been tested by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency are polluted. Many contaminants pollute Minnesota's waters: human and animal waste, algae from too much phosphorus and other pollutants. Now a new group of toxins have contaminated our water system, including our drinking water–perfluorochemicals or PFCs.

Over 67,000 Minnesota residents drinking water is contaminated by PFCs. Three types of PFCs (PFOS, PFOA, and PFBA) pollute the municipal water systems and private wells of eight communities in Minnesota, the Mississippi River and the Chain of Lakes, as well as seven additional states around the country.

These chemicals are persistent, toxic and bio-accumulate in both human and animal tissue. PFOA and PFOS cause a variety of adverse health impacts such as birth defects, a weakened immune system, and hormone disruption. Studies have found PFOA causes liver cancer, testicular cancer and may cause other types of cancer, such as breast cancer. While less is known about PFBA and studies are currently underway, there is cause for concern. People should not be exposed to a chemical we know so little about.

For more information please visit the Clean Water Action web site.