Have you heard of the chemical PFAS?  It’s been a hot topic within the water industry over the past several months.

PFAS stands for Per- and Polyflouroalkyl substances, and within the PFAS family tree are chemicals PFOA and PFOS.  They are man-made and gaining traction within the water industry and nationwide. However, this chemical has not been produced since 2015, when eight major manufacturers agreed to eliminate the production of PFOA and PFOS in their products and help stop production worldwide.  This being said, there is no evidence that the replacement chemicals to PFASs are any safer.

PFAS chemicals are commonly found in products that resist sticking, heat, water, stains, and grease.  People are exposed to PFASs by using everyday consumer products such as Teflon, cookware, pizza boxes, stain repellents, and water repellent clothes, to name a few.  When exposed to this chemical, it accumulates and stays within the human body. As a result, nearly all of us have some level of PFOA or chemicals in our blood since we are exposed to them.  A 2015 study of roughly 1700 participants by the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey discovered PFASs in 97 percent of human blood samples. Evidence suggests exposure to PFAS chemicals can lead to adverse health outcomes such as low infant birth weight, effects on the immune system, cancer, and thyroid hormone disruption.

These chemicals are in the air, water, and soil as byproducts of the manufacturing process, but they don’t dissolve and travel many miles.  These chemicals entering the water supply are isolated in communities where manufacturing plants have previously used or made the chemicals. In 29 states, measurable amounts of PFOA have been found in drinking water. As a result, the US EPA established a health advisory for PFAS in drinking water at 70 parts per trillion.  PFAS can be removed from the home’s drinking water using Granular Activated Carbon, Powdered Activated Carbon, Ion Exchange Resins, and Nanofiltration / Reverse Osmosis. Depending on a homeowner’s budget, any of the systems mentioned previously can be installed within a home to remove PFASs.  It is best to contact or call your local water treatment company with a certified water specialist through the Water Quality Association to help understand how to remove these chemicals.