In 2025, a study reported PFAS levels in the Rio Grande rose 11.5-fold downstream of Albuquerque, from 4 to 46 ng/L in 2020–24 samples

A 2025 study published in Water Environment Research found that per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance levels in the Rio Grande flowing through Albuquerque, New Mexico, increased tenfold. The average concentration rose from 4 to 46 nanograms per liter (ng/L), an approximately 11.5-fold increase.

An earlier 2024 study, published in the journal Emerging Contaminants, also examined PFAS contamination in the Rio Grande near Albuquerque. The study made use of high-frequency sampling and the application of water chemistry tracers to identify possible sources.

The researchers gathered samples at two points on the river and also in the effluent from the wastewater treatment plant that lies between them. They detected an order of magnitude increase in PFAS in the urban zone and also noticed that heavy rain periods were capable of carrying the chemicals in the urban runoff to the river.

The study distinguished between various compounds and their inputs. Perfluorooctanoic acid, perfluorooctane sulfonate, and perfluorobutanoic acid were found in the urban runoff, while perfluorohexanoic acid and perfluoropentanoic acid were found in the wastewater effluent.

They used passive samplers to monitor PFAS over longer time spans. Some PFAS were present in higher amounts, some in lower amounts, and one short-chain PFAS was absent in the study. They concluded that the technique is promising; however, the sampler material might not capture certain short-chain PFAS effectively.

As a whole, the studies presented a picture of the river system where the levels of PFAS depend on the location, time, amount of precipitation, and source of contamination. Their findings showed that levels varied across rivers and sampling periods, with urban runoff and wastewater among the potential contributors.

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