# Long Island Produce Under Scrutiny Over ‘Forever’ Chemical Contamination

**LONG ISLAND, NY** — A recent webinar hosted by the Citizens Campaign for the Environment (CCE) has brought renewed attention to the presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)—commonly known as "forever chemicals"—within the local Long Island food supply.

The online panel, held on March 5, presented findings from a collaborative study involving Stony Brook University, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER), and the CCE. The research suggests that these synthetic chemicals, which are already a point of contention regarding drinking water, are now being detected in locally grown produce.

### The Persistence of PFAS PFAS are a group of manufactured chemicals prized for their resistance to grease, water, and heat. However, their durability is also their greatest danger.

“All PFAS are persistent, which means that because of that really strong bond, they do not readily break down in the environment,” explained Dr. Kyla Bennett, PEER’s director of Science Policy. “Many of the ones that we have studied bioaccumulate in your body, and also those that we have done toxicity studies on, have been found to be toxic.”

The discussion featured a panel of experts, including CCE executive director Adrienne Esposito, Stony Brook professor Dr. Lokesh Padhye, and research consultant Dr. Seven Lasee, who collectively argued that regulatory focus has been too narrowly concentrated on drinking water at the expense of monitoring the food chain.

### Water Security and Regulatory Flux Long Island’s water infrastructure relies on a sole-source aquifer, a geological formation that provides the region's entire drinking water supply. Currently, New York State mandates that PFOA and PFOS—the two most prevalent types of PFAS—be kept at 10 parts per trillion (PPT).

The regulatory landscape, however, remains in flux. While the EPA has navigated complex discussions regarding national standards, New York officials are currently evaluating a potential reduction to 4 PPT to align with stricter emerging federal guidance. Critics of the current environmental policy argue that even as water standards are tightened, the systemic contamination of soil and produce remains a critical gap in public health oversight.

### Health Implications The experts on the panel detailed a grim array of health consequences associated with chronic PFAS exposure. According to the data presented, high concentrations of these chemicals in human blood have been linked to a variety of severe health issues, including: * **Cancer:** Increased risks of testicular and kidney cancer. * **Endocrine Issues:** Thyroid disease and high cholesterol. * **Developmental and Immune Impacts:** Childhood developmental delays and compromised vaccine immunity. * **Reproductive and Systemic Health:** Pregnancy loss, preeclampsia, obesity, and inflammatory bowel disease.

As the study findings circulate, advocates are calling for increased transparency regarding the safety of Long Island’s agricultural products. For a region that prides itself on local farming and self-sufficiency, the potential for "forever chemicals" to migrate from the soil into the produce aisle presents a significant challenge for both regulators and local growers.