In the past year, I have drastically reduced my alcohol consumption. Even small, infrequent amounts of alcohol would leave me feeling hungover and inflamed the next day. As someone who values good health, I decided to give up drinking altogether.

However, I still enjoy having a “special beverage” when others are enjoying boozy drinks. One of my favorites has become canned sparkling water.

So, I was really disappointed and concerned when I recently learned about high levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) found in many sparkling water beverages.

What are PFAS and Why Are They a Health Concern?

PFAS are man-made chemicals used for their water- and grease-resistant properties. You’ll find them in everyday items like non-stick cookware, water-repellent clothing, stain-resistant fabrics, and some food packaging.

PFAS Human Health Concerns:

1. Environmental Persistence: PFAS are often called “forever chemicals” because they don’t break down easily in the environment. This means they can accumulate in soil, water, and living organisms over time.
2. Bioaccumulation: Once these chemicals enter our bodies, they tend to stay there for a long time. This can lead to chronic exposure, as PFAS accumulate in our tissues over the years.
3. Health Risks: Research has linked PFAS exposure to a variety of health problems:

• • • Liver Damage: PFAS can impact liver function and elevate liver enzymes.
    • Hormonal Disruptions: They can interfere with the endocrine system, potentially causing thyroid disorders and reproductive issues.
    • Immune System Effects: PFAS exposure may weaken the immune system, making it harder to fight infections.
    • Increased Cholesterol Levels: Some PFAS compounds are associated with higher cholesterol levels.
    • Cancer Risk: Certain PFAS, such as PFOA and PFOS, have been classified as possible human carcinogens.

Given these concerns, the presence of PFAS in drinking water and food products, including sparkling water, is alarming. Efforts are ongoing to regulate and reduce PFAS exposure through better manufacturing practices and stricter environmental standards.

The Biden-Harris Administration has taken significant steps to regulate PFAS exposure. They’ve issued a legal drinking water standard and set a stricter, non-enforceable health-based goal of ‘zero’ for specific PFAS chemicals. Additionally, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will provide PFAS testing and treatment options to public water systems and private well owners. Policies and initiatives like these are how we will get clean drinking water to everyone and it’s encouraging to see steps being made.

Even though improved regulations may be on the horizon, I have a personal history of autoimmune and thyroid issues and it’s important to me to take what steps I can right now to reduce exposure to chemicals such as PFAS.

How do PFAS get into sparkling water?

When doing more research about which brands of sparking water contain high vs low levels of PFAS, I couldn’t help but wonder: How do PFAS make their way into our drinking water anyway? (And, yes. Unfortunately, PFAS can be found in more than just sparkling water. They have also been detected in bottled water (flat) and tap water. More on that later in this article.)

PFAS primarily end up in sparkling water via the source water that is used by the manufacturer. If they are using city water, for example, that is contaminated with PFAS and they are not processing it to remove PFAS then the PFAS remains present in the final packaged product. (Please note that it’s not just city water supplies that are contaminated with PFAS. Public water supplies and private wells have been found to have similar PFAS levels.)

PFAS can be present in packaging materials, such as certain types of plastic bottles or aluminum can liners. If these materials leach PFAS, they can contaminate the beverage.

Which brands of sparkling water have the highest PFAS levels?

Even though public water supply policy is in its early days, we know that there are many health concerns associated with PFAS. As such, it makes sense to try to limit exposure to these chemicals as much as possible. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) recommends that PFAS levels in drinking water be beneath 1 part per trillion (ppt).

In 2020, Consumer Reports published an article detailing the results of their studies on PFAS levels in various bottled flat and sparkling waters. For the sparkling waters, they tested 12 different products, each from a different brand, and measured the PFAS levels in parts per trillion (ppt).

Here is a summary of the brands that Consumer Reports found to have higher than recommended levels of PFAS.

High Levels of PFAS (avoid):

• Perrier
• La Croix
• Canada Dry
• Poland Spring
• Bubly
• Polar
• Topo Chico

Since the initial article was published, one brand has reduced the PFAS levels in their products. Topo Chico (owned by Coca-Cola) cut their PFAS levels by about half. However, their levels still exceed the 1 ppt threshold.

Are there sparkling waters that are low in PFAS?

As I mentioned earlier, I enjoy drinking sparkling water. It’s a nice way for me to have a little treat without alcohol and still feel socially connected to my friends and family, even if they choose to drink. While there are many fun mocktails and refreshing options like lemonade or iced tea, I wanted to find low-toxin sparkling water options for when I crave something fizzy.

Thankfully, I found a few sparkling waters with low (below 1 ppt) or no PFAS. I hope to expand this list in the future as consumer awareness of PFAS grows and manufacturers feel the pressure to provide safer products.

Low to No PFAS Sparkling Water:

• Sound (none detected)
• Mountain Valley (none detected)
• Proud Source (none detected)
• Sanzo
  • Although I cannot find any information on PFAS on their website, the founder of Sanzo did make a TikTok saying that their water is tested for PFAS and is below the detectable limit.
• Spindrift (low PFAS)
• Sanpellegrino (low PFAS)
• Schweppes (low PFAS)
• Nixie
  • From their FAQ page: “We purify our water using reverse osmosis filtration, which removes impurities like fluoride, sodium, and heavy metals. At Nixie, we do specifically test for PFAS.” Although their website does not specifically say that their water is PFAS-free, according to the EPA reverse osmosis filtration is effective at removing PFAS.

I checked the websites of several sparkling water brands for information on PFAS but didn’t find any. Considering how common PFAS are in water, I’m adopting a “guilty until proven innocent” approach and will limit my exposure to products unless I’m sure they have reduced toxins.

Unclear Levels of PFAS (avoid):

• Waterloo
  • No mention of PFAS testing on their website
• Liquid Death
  • No mention of PFAS testing on their website
• Aura Bora
  • From their FAQ page: “Our cans are all…PFAS-free” (I added the emphasis). It’s unclear if they are only referring to their packaging being PFAS-free, or if they test their water for PFAS.
• Recess
  • No mention of PFAS testing on their website
• Gerolsteiner
  • No mention of PFAS testing on their website

How to Make Sparkling Water At Home

Another safe option is to make sparkling water at home. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Check Your Tap Water: Start by learning about the contaminants in your tap water. You can visit the EWG’s tap water database to find out what’s in your water supply.
2. Choose the Right Filtration System: Based on the specific contaminants in your tap water, select an appropriate water filtration system. The EWG provides excellent resources for understanding different water filtration options. I use a Berkey water filter which has been shown to nearly completely eliminate PFAS from water.
3. Carbonate Your Water: Use a device like a SodaStream to carbonate your filtered water. If I were to choose one, I’d go with the E-Duo model, which allows you to use a glass bottle instead of plastic. This is crucial since chemicals in plastic products are known endocrine disruptors, and we don’t want to trade one toxin for another.