Online PFAS information from public sources can fall short and leave public without enough guidance, study reveals
Why it matters: The public is left without enough guidance to protect themselves from PFAS exposure, linked to cancers and immune system damage.
- Top 98 websites accessed by Google users for PFAS information in drinking water were analyzed, spanning government, non-profit, water utility, news media, research, and corporate sources.
- News media accurately reports the severity of PFAS threats but fails to provide actionable advice on solutions, according to the University of Wisconsin study.
- Most websites do not prioritize information on how to reduce PFAS risk on their landing pages, despite public demand for such guidance.
- News media and nonprofit groups use anxiety-evoking language regarding PFAS risks, which creates inconsistency when contrasted with the more subdued tone of local government and water utility sites.
- Local government and water utility sites rarely emphasize individual risk, even in areas with documented high PFAS levels, and often bury efficacy information behind multiple links, making it difficult for the public to access critical data.
- PFAS communicators face the challenge of balancing evolving science and varying local risks while effectively communicating mitigation strategies without downplaying the threat, as highlighted by Lyn M. van Swol, co-author of the study.
A new study reveals that online public sources, including government, news media, and non-profits, are failing to provide adequate guidance on protecting against "forever chemicals" (PFAS) in drinking water, despite their links to serious health issues. While news media accurately reports threats, it falls short on solutions, contrasting with local government and water utility sites that often downplay individual risk and bury crucial information.
