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Toxic Foam Invades Coastlines: A Shocking Discovery
20 Oct
Summary
- Sea foam found to contain dangerously high levels of PFAS
- PFAS concentrations in foam much higher than in water itself
- Exposure to contaminated foam poses risks to people and ecosystems
According to a study published in October 2025, researchers have found that the sea foam commonly seen along global coastlines can contain dangerously high levels of PFAS, or "forever chemicals." The study, conducted by researchers in North Carolina, focused on sea foam samples collected from 13 locations along the state's Cape Fear River and Atlantic Ocean coast.
The initial samples revealed PFAS levels in the sea foam that were considerably higher than the maximum limits set by the Environmental Protection Agency for drinking water. Further testing confirmed these elevated PFAS concentrations, with the researchers discovering that the levels of certain PFAS were much higher in the sea foam than in the water itself - sometimes by a magnitude of thousands.
"Monitoring these coastal environments is critical because contact with contaminated foam could pose unexpected risks to people and ecosystems," said study author Jeffrey Enders.
