The forever chemicals: The race to track exposure

The challenges of monitoring an invisible community threat 

Scientists are in a high-stakes race to track the spread of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, a class of nearly indestructible chemicals contaminating water, soil and even human blood. As public concern mounts over their potential links to cancer, metabolic disorders and immune dysfunction, researchers and epidemiologists face a daunting challenge: detecting these invisible pollutants in the environment and proving their long-term health effects.  

With both rapidly changing federal regulations and testing methods emerging, the fight to contain PFAS is gaining momentum. For many communities, however, the damage may already be done. 

For public health organizations, effective tracking is critical. Recent advancements in surveillance tools, regulatory standards and testing protocols are helping researchers map contamination sources and assess public health risks. But gaps remain, requiring continued investment in monitoring infrastructure, data-sharing initiatives and exposure analysis. 

How scientists track PFAS exposure 

Tracking PFAS contamination requires a multi-layered approach, combining environmental testing, biomonitoring and epidemiological studies. Key methods include: 

• Environmental monitoring – Scientists collect water, soil and air samples from contaminated sites, including industrial areas, military bases and agricultural land, to measure PFAS concentrations. Recently, the EPA’s new national standards for six PFAS chemicals in drinking water have increased focus on municipal water system testing. 
• Biomonitoring studies – Public health agencies analyze blood, urine and breast milk samples to assess PFAS levels in populations. The CDC’s National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) has detected PFAS in nearly every U.S. participant tested, indicating widespread exposure. 
• Exposure history interviews – Epidemiologists conduct surveys and interviews to understand how individuals meet PFAS, whether through drinking water, food packaging or occupational exposure. 
• Advanced laboratory testing – New diagnostic codes and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC/MS) technology allow scientists to detect specific PFAS compounds in blood and water samples with greater accuracy. 

Challenges in PFAS tracking 

Despite advancements, monitoring PFAS remains complex due to several factors, including: 

• Diverse chemical structures – There are thousands of PFAS compounds, each behaving differently in the environment and human body. Standardized testing methods do not yet cover the full spectrum of these chemicals. 
• Long latency periods – Many PFAS-related health effects, such as cancer or endocrine disorders, take years to develop, making it difficult to establish direct causal links between exposure and disease. 
• Inconsistent regulatory standards – While the EPA has established new drinking water limits, PFAS regulations vary widely at the state and international levels, complicating large-scale tracking efforts. 
• Data gaps in exposure pathways – While drinking water is the most common exposure source, PFAS can also enter the body through contaminated food, dust and consumer products. Understanding these pathways requires comprehensive, long-term studies. 

Strengthening surveillance with public health technology 

Given these challenges, public health agencies require advanced tracking systems to identify exposure trends and implement early interventions. Maven, Conduent’s public health surveillance platform, plays a critical role in monitoring environmental contaminants and related illnesses. 

Used by public health organizations in 28 international, state, and local jurisdictions, Maven enables epidemiologists to: 

• Aggregate PFAS exposure data from multiple sources, including lab reports, environmental assessments, and health records 
• Detect geographic clusters of PFAS-related illnesses and issue alerts for high-risk areas 
• Track trends over time to assess the effectiveness of mitigation efforts 
• Improve coordination between state and federal agencies for faster response to contamination events 

By leveraging digital public health tools, agencies can gain a clearer picture of how PFAS exposure impacts communities and inform policies to reduce risks. 

Maven, our cloud-based platform, enables clients to detect, monitor, track and report public health threats and infectious disease outbreaks, transforming data into actionable insights to protect the health of people and animals. 

Maven is backed by a team of epidemiologists and is utilized across 28 government agencies in the United States, Europe and Australia to manage emerging threats to their residents.  
Maven permits real-time monitoring and reporting to local, state and national public health organizations.  Interoperability with AI is ideal for predictive modeling to decrease exposure and improve outcomes. 

Organizations utilize Maven to keep an eye on deadly outbreaks like COVID-19, C. auris and Mpox as well as more than 100 other communicable and non-communicable diseases like Ebola, Zika, measles, tuberculosis, HIV/STDs and influenza. 
 
The future of PFAS tracking and mitigation 

Without stronger surveillance and enforcement, experts warn, these persistent pollutants will continue to threaten drinking water, food supplies and human health. 

A key step is expanding biomonitoring programs, such as the CDC’s NHANES, which is helping researchers understand how PFAS accumulates in the body over time. More participation in these studies could provide the data needed to shape future regulations and intervention strategies. 

Testing requirements are also under scrutiny. While PFAS contamination often goes unnoticed, stricter monitoring of municipal water systems, food sources and biosolid fertilizers could catch hidden risks before they escalate. However, inconsistencies in testing methods remain a challenge. Scientists say a standardized approach to detecting a broader range of PFAS compounds is essential to ensuring accurate exposure assessments. 

Beyond detection, public health officials and advocacy groups are calling for tougher policy enforcement. Holding industries accountable for PFAS pollution, improving waste disposal regulations, and restricting the use of PFAS in consumer products are critical next steps. 

A call to action for public health organizations 

PFAS tracking is a complex but urgent task. By investing in better monitoring tools, improving data collection, and enforcing stronger regulations, public health organizations can play a pivotal role in reducing exposure risks. 

The persistence of these “forever chemicals” demands sustained vigilance. With coordinated efforts, we can mitigate their impact and protect future generations from long-term harm. 

Related:  
Combatting HPAI: Key health strategies 
How Mpox helped change public health narratives 
 
Ready to safeguard your residents with advanced monitoring and protection? Learn more now at https://www.conduent.com/government-solutions/medicaid-public-health-solutions/public-health-management-solutions/.