A new study published in JAMA Network Open found that higher levels of trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetic acids (HAAs) — common byproducts of drinking water disinfection — were linked to increased uterine cancer risk in California women. Women exposed to community water supplies for 10 or more years showed an 18% higher risk of uterine cancer overall, with a 23% higher risk of the most common subtype. These chemicals may act as endocrine disruptors by binding to estrogen receptors, potentially driving hormonal imbalances that fuel cancer development. Experts are calling for a re-examination of outdated water contaminant regulations, which were set decades ago based solely on bladder cancer data.
