Scientists discovered that millions of people across Asia are exposed to harmful chemicals called PFAS (forever chemicals) through contaminated water and food. These chemicals don’t break down naturally and can build up in your body over time. The problem is especially serious in East Asia, where factories make textiles and car parts, but it’s spreading across the entire continent. Researchers found PFAS in drinking water, fish, and even breast milk in many countries. The concerning part is that most Asian countries don’t have strong rules to control these chemicals like Western countries do, leaving people at risk without knowing it.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: How much of a dangerous chemical called PFAS (forever chemicals) people in Asia are exposed to, where it comes from, and what makes the problem worse in different countries.
  • Who participated: This wasn’t a study of specific people, but rather a review of about 3,000 water samples and human blood/milk samples collected across 20 Asian countries, with most data coming from China, Japan, and South Korea.
  • Key finding: PFAS chemicals are found in water, food, and human bodies across Asia at levels that scientists consider concerning. The problem is especially bad in areas with factories and in countries where people eat a lot of fish and seafood.
  • What it means for you: If you live in Asia, you’re likely exposed to these chemicals through drinking water and food, even if you can’t see them. While we don’t yet know exactly how much harm this causes to each person, it’s important to be aware and support stronger safety rules in your country.

The Research Details

Scientists reviewed all the available research about PFAS chemicals in Asia. They looked at studies that measured these chemicals in water samples from 20 different Asian countries and in human blood and breast milk samples, mostly from China, Japan, and South Korea. They also examined what activities and habits increase people’s exposure to these chemicals. This type of review helps scientists understand the big picture of a problem by combining information from many different studies.

The researchers focused especially on East Asia because that’s where most of the research has been done. However, they noted that many other Asian countries haven’t been studied much yet, so the real problem might be bigger than we know. They looked at how factories, drinking water sources, and food choices all contribute to people being exposed to these chemicals.

This type of review is important because it shows us patterns across a huge region with billions of people. Instead of looking at one small study, scientists can see the whole picture of how widespread the problem is. This helps governments and health organizations decide what rules they need to make to protect people.

This is a review article, which means it summarizes what other scientists have found rather than doing a brand new experiment. The strength of this review depends on the quality of the studies it looked at. The researchers note that there’s a big gap in research—most studies are from just three countries (China, Japan, and South Korea), so we don’t know as much about the rest of Asia. This means some of their conclusions about other countries are educated guesses rather than proven facts. The review is recent (2025) and published in a respected science journal, which adds to its credibility.

What the Results Show

PFAS chemicals have been detected in water and food across Asia at levels that concern scientists. In water samples from 20 Asian countries (about 3,000 samples total), researchers found these chemicals in both surface water (rivers and lakes) and groundwater (water underground). The contamination is especially severe in areas with textile factories and car manufacturing plants.

These chemicals are also showing up in drinking water and food products, which means people are ingesting them regularly. Scientists have found PFAS in human blood and breast milk in China, South Korea, and Japan, proving that these chemicals are actually getting into people’s bodies and staying there. Newer replacement chemicals that factories are using instead of the original PFAS are also being found in human samples, suggesting that switching to “safer” alternatives isn’t solving the problem.

The research shows that certain factors make exposure worse in some areas: countries that rely heavily on fish and seafood for food, areas with untreated drinking water, and regions near industrial activity all have higher exposure levels. Interestingly, in some countries like India where many people are vegetarian, the exposure patterns might be different, though more research is needed to understand this.

The review found that replacement chemicals—ones that factories started using when the original PFAS were restricted—are becoming a new problem. These include chemicals with names like 6:2 Cl-PFESA and HFPO-DA. These replacements are being produced mainly in China and are showing up in people’s bodies there. This suggests that simply banning one chemical doesn’t solve the problem if companies just switch to similar chemicals that haven’t been studied as much. Additionally, the research shows that wastewater-fed fisheries (farms that use treated sewage water) in some Asian countries may be another pathway for PFAS to enter the food supply.

This review shows that Asia’s PFAS problem is similar to what was discovered in Western countries years ago, but Asia is behind in addressing it. Western countries like the United States and those in Europe have stricter regulations on PFAS and have been studying the problem longer. The concerning part is that Asia is now facing the same contamination issues but without the same level of government oversight and safety rules. This review also highlights that most previous research focused on just three East Asian countries, leaving huge gaps in our understanding of exposure across the rest of the continent.

The biggest limitation is that most research has been done in China, Japan, and South Korea—these three countries account for 80-90% of all PFAS studies in Asia. This means we don’t really know how bad the problem is in other Asian countries. The review also notes that many Asian countries don’t have strong systems for monitoring PFAS, so there may be contamination that hasn’t been discovered yet. Additionally, while scientists know PFAS is in water and food, there’s still uncertainty about exactly how much exposure is dangerous to human health. Finally, the review couldn’t look at all possible sources of exposure because some haven’t been studied yet.

The Bottom Line

Based on this research, here are evidence-based steps: (1) If you live in Asia, consider using a water filter certified to remove PFAS, especially if you have well water or live near industrial areas—this is a moderate confidence recommendation because it’s a practical precaution. (2) Reduce consumption of fish and seafood if you live in a heavily contaminated area, though this is harder to recommend because fish is nutritious and the exact risk level isn’t fully known yet. (3) Support government efforts to test drinking water and food for PFAS contamination—this is a high confidence recommendation because we can’t fix a problem we don’t measure. (4) Advocate for stronger PFAS regulations in your country similar to those in Western nations—this is a high confidence recommendation based on the research showing Asia lags behind in protections.

Everyone living in Asia should be aware of this issue, but it’s especially important for: pregnant women and nursing mothers (because PFAS passes to babies), young children (whose bodies are still developing), people living near factories or industrial areas, people who rely heavily on fish and seafood for nutrition, and people using untreated or self-supplied drinking water. People in Western countries should care because this shows how chemical contamination spreads globally and affects billions of people. However, if you live outside Asia, your immediate personal risk is lower, though PFAS is a global issue.

PFAS chemicals accumulate in your body over years and decades, not days or weeks. If you make changes like filtering your water or adjusting your diet, you won’t see immediate health improvements because the chemicals are already in your system. However, reducing your exposure now may prevent further accumulation and could help your body naturally eliminate some of these chemicals over months and years. The real timeline for seeing health benefits would be years to decades, which is why prevention and government action are so important.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track your water source and consumption: Log daily whether you drank filtered water, bottled water, or tap water, and note your location. This helps you see your exposure patterns and identify if switching to filtered water is feasible for you.
  • Set a goal to filter your drinking water if you live in a high-risk area (near factories, using well water, or in a country with limited PFAS regulations). Use the app to remind you to refill your water filter monthly and track how much filtered water you’re drinking daily.
  • Create a monthly check-in where you review your water filtration compliance and note any changes in your local news about PFAS contamination. Set a quarterly reminder to research your country’s PFAS regulations and whether they’ve improved. If you have access to blood testing, track PFAS levels annually if your doctor recommends it.

This article summarizes scientific research about PFAS exposure in Asia but is not medical advice. PFAS health effects are still being studied, and individual risk varies based on location, diet, and water source. If you’re concerned about PFAS exposure, consult with a healthcare provider or environmental health professional in your country. This review identifies research gaps, meaning some conclusions about areas outside East Asia are preliminary. Always verify current regulations and safety guidelines with your local health authorities, as PFAS rules are evolving. This information is for educational purposes and should not replace professional medical or environmental health guidance.