PFAS detected for first time on Miccosukee Indian reservation: study raises concerns for Everglades water quality

MIAMI – For the first time, researchers from Florida International University (FIU), working in collaboration with the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida, have detected a dozen different “forever chemicals” known as PFAS (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances) within the Miccosukee Indian Reservation in the Everglades. The findings, published in Environmental Research, raise new questions about potential impacts to water quality, ecosystem health and ongoing Everglades restoration efforts.

It is the first time PFAS have been measured on the reservation. PFAS levels in marshlands and canals ranged from 3.94 to 40.1 parts per trillion (ppt). In comparison, Miami’s major canals – Miami River, Little River, and Biscayne Canal – have levels several times greater (30.1 to 153 ppt) with 78% of samples exceeding safe surface water screening standards. have levels several times greater (30.1 to 153 ppt) with 78% of samples exceeding safe surface water screening standards. 

Even low levels of exposure could be problematic, said Natalia Soares Quinete, study author and an environmental chemist who leads FIU’s initiative to study the local prevalence of PFAS. 

“Whether lower concentrations automatically mean ‘safe’ for this ecosystem and the people and wildlife it supports isn’t something that has been determined with certainty yet, especially considering how these chemicals tend to accumulate and build up over time in the environment,” Quinete said. 

Quinete and her research group are among the first to extensively track and measure the spread of PFAS in South Florida. They’ve published studies pinpointing the presence of the chemicals in drinking water, rainwater and the canals that feed into Miami’s Biscayne Bay, as well as the marine life living in those coastal ecosystems, including oysters and economically important recreational fish and lobsters. 

PFAS are man-made chemicals widely used in consumer and industrial products for their resistance to heat, water and stains. They make cookware non-stick, fabrics waterproof and cosmetics long-lasting. Yet, these compounds persist indefinitely in the environment, accumulating in soil, water, wildlife and humans. Even low levels of exposure have been linked to cancer, thyroid disease, and developmental problems.

The most predominant compounds Quinete’s team found were PFBA (which has been found to affect the liver and thyroid), as well as PFOS and PFOA (since phased out of production over cancer concerns). 

The Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida contacted Quinete’s team about PFAS concerns in their community, suspecting possible water contamination but lacking data. Quinete’s team agreed to assist by collecting samples at the locations the tribe identified.  

“Clean and safe drinking water is a top priority for the Miccosukee Tribe. The Miccosukee Constitution requires that Tribal government protect the health of both its citizens and its lands and waters,” said Amy Castaneda, the Miccosukee Tribe Water Resources Director. “Working collaboratively with Dr. Quinete and her world-class team at FIU, we have been able to identify risks, find sources, and strategize remedies to ensure clean water not just for the Tribal community, but for all of South Florida’s residents, human and otherwise.”

The researchers say more work is needed to trace where the PFAS are coming from and how they may interact with Everglades restoration plans. 

“Current restoration doesn’t take into consideration contaminants, like PFAS,” Quinete said. “Understanding their presence is the first step toward protecting this fragile ecosystem.”

To learn more, visit go.fiu.edu/pfaseverglades.