April 12, 2026
A new study has found PFAS “forever chemicals” in every produce sample tested from Long Island farms, raising fresh alarms about how these persistent compounds are moving into the food chain through contaminated soil, water, and air. Researchers from Citizens Campaign for the Environment and Stony Brook University tested 23 samples from eight North and South Fork farms in summer 2025 and found detectable PFAS in all of them — including carrots, romaine lettuce, Boston lettuce, and beets.
PFAS — short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances — are a class of thousands of synthetic chemicals used for decades in nonstick cookware, waterproof clothing, stain-resistant carpets, firefighting foam, and food packaging. They earned the nickname “forever chemicals” because they do not break down in the environment and accumulate in human tissue over time.
Federal health agencies have linked certain PFAS compounds to kidney and testicular cancer, thyroid disease, elevated cholesterol, weakened immune response, pregnancy loss, and developmental effects in children.
Long Island MacArthur Airport in Islip has been one of the most prominent sources — PFAS-containing firefighting foam was used at the airport for decades, migrating into groundwater serving more than a dozen surrounding water districts. The state designated MacArthur Airport as a Superfund site in February 2023.
Areas in Brookhaven Township, Babylon, and across parts of Nassau County have also shown elevated PFAS levels in groundwater.
The March 2026 study found PFAS in all 23 produce samples from eight East End farms. Carrots showed the highest concentrations, exceeding EPA daily reference-dose thresholds for PFOS and GenX. Both organic and conventional farms showed detectable contamination. "This is not a farming problem. This is a societal problem," said Adrienne Esposito, executive director of Citizens Campaign for the Environment.
Washing or cooking produce does not remove PFAS. The chemicals bind into plant tissue as crops grow.
The Suffolk County Water Authority announced in June 2025 that all of its drinking water wells now meet the EPA's federal standard of 4 parts per trillion for PFAS — six years ahead of the 2031 compliance deadline. New York State also has pending legislation that would ban PFAS in a range of consumer products.
