Sierra Club Report: PFAS Found in Nearly All Alabama’s Waterways
February 19, 2026
Contact
Andy Li, andy.li@sierraclub.org
MONTGOMERY, AL - A new report released today has found PFAS in nearly all of Alabama’s waterways, confirming the statewide threat of these deadly toxins.
PFAS are man-made “forever chemicals” that don’t break down in the environment and are highly toxic to people. They are virtually unregulated by the US government, meaning that industries are legally allowed to flush PFAS chemicals down wastewater drains where they settle out in the solid materials during wastewater treatment.
KEY FINDINGS
In its “Testing Shows Toxic PFAS Chemicals in Tributaries and Rivers across Alabama” report, Sierra Club found PFAS in all 29 water samples taken from across the state. Approximately 88% of surface water samples statewide have tested positive for PFAS at levels requiring fish consumption advisories. The most toxic and well-known PFAS chemicals, PFOA and PFOS, were found almost everywhere, at 27 out of 29 sample sites. Overall, 14 different PFAS were found in Alabama waterways.
In response, Nancy Muse, Chair of the Sierra Club Alabama Chapter, released the following statement: “This report confirms the sad truth that many Alabamans have feared– PFAS have contaminated nearly all of our state’s waterways, posing a dire threat to our communities’ health and safety. These toxic chemicals are linked to horrific health problems, from kidney and testicular cancer to immune system damage to birth defects. Our state legislators and regulators have to take a stand against polluters and stop the unregulated dumping of PFAS straight into our waterways.”