NewsWUSF — Tampa Bay NPR (Environment)October 25, 2026Hillsborough County
Researchers find widespread PFAS contamination in Florida waterways
Photo: WUSF — Tampa Bay NPR (Environment)
A new report reveals that roughly 96 percent of tested Florida waterways contain dozens of manufactured toxic chemicals known as PFAS, reflecting nationwide contamination. The findings highlight pollution in key sources such as the Hillsborough River and Tiger Lake, coinciding with a new state law that took effect July 1 to phase out certain firefighting foams.
Read the full story at WUSF — Tampa Bay NPR (Environment)Why It Matters
Residents who consume fish from local lakes or draw drinking water from contaminated rivers face exposure to synthetic chemicals linked to cancer, high cholesterol, and developmental issues.
Key Facts
- Roughly 96 percent of 23 tested Florida waterways between 2022 and 2024 contained 43 different kinds of PFAS.
- Nationwide, 83 percent of 1,602 waterways tested were contaminated with PFAS, with researchers detecting up to 114 different kinds.
- PFAS are manufactured chemicals used since the 1940s in nonstick cookware, waterproof fabrics, cosmetics, and firefighting foam.
- The chemicals do not break down easily and have been linked to cancers, high cholesterol, obesity, and developmental problems.
- Contaminated waterways in Florida include the Hillsborough River, which provides drinking water for Tampa, and Tiger Lake in central Florida.
- A new Florida state law took effect on July 1 to phase out aqueous film-forming foam to address the PFAS problem.
- The highest PFAS concentration nationwide was found in a retention pond at the Brunswick Executive Airport in Brunswick, Maine.
- The report recommends phasing out PFAS, banning industrial discharges into waterways, and ending the use of PFAS-laden sewage sludge on farmland.
Who's Mentioned
locationBrunswick Executive Airport“Site of an accidental foam release in Brunswick, Maine.”OrganizationEnvironmental Protection Agency“Collected surface water monitoring data used in the report.”OrganizationHolloman Air Force Base“Location near Holloman Lake in New Mexico.”PersonChristian Wells“Professor of anthropology and director of the Center for Brownfields Research an”locationHillsborough River“Waterway providing drinking water for Tampa, found to contain PFAS.”locationTiger Lake“Central Florida lake where 36 PFAS compounds were detected.”OrganizationU.S. PIRG Education Fund“Co-publisher of the report.”OrganizationWaterkeeper Alliance“Contributed surface water monitoring data.”OrganizationEnvironment America Research & Policy Center“Co-publisher of the report on PFAS contamination.”locationMilwaukee Mitchell International Airport“Location near waterways with high PFAS concentrations in Wisconsin.”OrganizationInside Climate News“Nonprofit, non-partisan news organization that originally published the article.”PersonJohn Rumpler“Clean water director and senior attorney at the Environment America Research & P”OrganizationUniversity of South Florida“Affiliation of Christian Wells.”OrganizationFrontier Group“Co-publisher of the report.”