Trump National Golf Course’s Water Has High Concentration Of ‘Forever Chemicals’ That Studies Suggest Are Linked To Cancer, Watchdog Group Says

An environmental watchdog group says that a high concentration of chemicals is present in the tap water at one of President Donald Trump’s favorite properties.

The Environmental Working Group (EWG), an activist organization that focuses on research and advocacy regarding toxic chemicals and water pollution, discovered high levels of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and other perfluorinated chemicals (PFAS) in the tap water at Trump National Golf Course in Bedminister, New Jersey, Newsweek reported.

PFOA and PFAS are sometimes called “forever chemicals” because they don’t break down easy within whatever environment they find themselves in — including the human body. That means that consumption of these chemicals can build-up over time. The more one consumes, the heavier the concentration of PFOA or PFAS in the body.

The Safe Water Drinking Act presently doesn’t have a limit on PFOA or PFAS in water levels. But according to the EPA, exposure to them can cause critical damage to individuals.

Studies on animals demonstrated that prolonged exposure to PFAS over time “can cause reproductive and developmental, liver and kidney, and immunological effects.” Some research has found that cancer and thyroid disruption can occur as well.

"I think it's sadly ironic that a President who has done more to weaken clean water protections has been serving contaminated water to his own guests."#ShitholePresidenthttps://t.co/JDjM6oGBWq — Democratic Coalition (@TheDemCoalition) November 7, 2019

EWG says there are additional links of PFOA and PFAS to liver, testicular, kidney, and other types of cancers.

Federal standards for exposure of PFOA and PFAS is set at 70 parts per trillion (ppt). However, many scientists believe that threshold is much too high, and some have even called for recommendations to be lowered to .1 ppt, The Intercept reported earlier this year.

EWG’s own recommendation is to not exceed 1 ppt in levels of PFOA and PFAS in drinking water. According to their research, they found levels at Trump’s National Golf Course to be as high as 3.6 ppt.

Trump has utilized his golf course at Bedminster for several personal trips, and has conducted business there with world leaders as well. Trump affectionately calls the property “the summer White House” — but if the reports from EWG are to be believed, he may be exposing himself, and other leaders from foreign countries, to toxic chemicals.