PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances) in Drinking Water

🩨 Health Effects

PFAS are a group of thousands of synthetic chemicals used in non-stick cookware, waterproof clothing, food packaging, and firefighting foam. Long-term exposure has been linked to cancer (kidney, testicular), thyroid disease, immune system suppression, reproductive problems, and developmental delays in children. They are called "forever chemicals" because they do not break down in the environment or the human body.

📍 Sources in Water

PFAS contamination in drinking water is primarily linked to military bases and airports using AFFF (aqueous film-forming foam) for fire training, industrial facilities (3M, DuPont/Chemours), and consumer product manufacturing sites. Contaminated sites have been found in all 50 states. PFAS in water can also come from landfill leachate and agricultural use of PFAS-contaminated sewage sludge.

✅ What To Do

In April 2024, the EPA finalized the first-ever national drinking water standards for PFAS, setting MCLs of 4 parts per trillion (0.000000004 mg/L) for PFOA and PFOS individually, and 10 ppt for PFNA, PFHxS, and HFPO-DA (GenX). Water utilities have until 2027 to comply. Granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration and reverse osmosis (RO) are the most effective treatment methods for PFAS. Point-of-use RO filters at the kitchen tap are practical for households. Check the EPA's PFAS Analytic Tools to find contaminated sites near you.

📜 Regulation History

In April 2024, the EPA finalized the first national drinking water standards for PFAS, setting MCLs of 4 ppt for PFOA and PFOS individually, and 10 ppt for PFNA, PFHxS, and HFPO-DA (GenX). Utilities must comply by 2027. Before this, PFAS had only a non-enforceable health advisory (70 ppt, set in 2016, lowered to near-zero in 2022). Several states including New Jersey, Michigan, and Vermont had already set enforceable state-level limits before the federal rule.

🔬 How To Test Your Water

Certified lab tests for PFAS cost $200-$500 using EPA Method 533 or 537.1, covering dozens of individual PFAS compounds. Home test kits for PFAS have recently become available for $100-$200 but test for fewer compounds. Check the EPA PFAS Analytic Tools website and your utility's Consumer Confidence Report for known contamination near you.

💧 Which Filters Remove PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances)?

Reverse osmosis (NSF/ANSI 58 certified) removes 90%+ of most PFAS compounds and is the most effective home treatment. Granular activated carbon (GAC) filters also reduce PFAS, though effectiveness varies by compound and carbon type. Look for NSF/ANSI P473 certification, which is specifically for PFOA and PFOS reduction. Ion exchange resins designed for PFAS are emerging as a treatment option.

🔗 Related Contaminants