Trace PFAS contamination widespread across Massachusetts freshwater bodies, including Deerfield and Chicopee rivers

NORTHAMPTON — PFAS were present in a vast majority of Massachusetts waterways sampled between 2022 and 2024, including the Connecticut, Deerfield and Chicopee rivers, Oxbow Pond and Pelham Lake, according to a recent report from the MassPIRG Education Fund. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, form an expansive class of manmade “forever chemicals” that accumulate in the human body and are known to increase cancer risk, suppress the immune system and contribute to some reproductive health issues. The report draws on data aggregated by the National Water Quality Monitoring Council’s Water Quality Portal through the Environmental Protection Agency, the United States Geological Survey and various state and local agencies.

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