PFAS IN WATER

Per- and PolyFluoroAlkyl Substances (PFAS) are a group of man-made chemicals that have been manufactured since the 1940s. They have been used extensively in common household products such as nonstick pans, food packaging (pizza boxes, microwave popcorn bags, etc.), clothing and upholstery protectors (GoreTex, Scotchgard, etc.), and some personal care products and cosmetics. PFAS were also an important ingredient in fire-fighting foam.

Most U.S. manufacturers have phased out the use of PFOA and PFOS, however, these chemicals are still produced internationally and can be imported into the U.S. in consumer goods such as carpet, leather and apparel, textiles, paper and packaging, coatings, rubber and plastics.

PFAS do not break down in water or soil and may be carried over great distances by wind, rain or groundwater. Much of the contamination that is being discovered today may have originated years ago before suspicion of the damaging environmental and health effects was raised.

Exposure to PFAS can lead to adverse human health effects.

The main sources of exposure to PFAS, particularly PFOA and PFOS, are food and drinking water that is contaminated with these chemicals.

PFAS may have entered groundwater from:

• Industrial facilities where PFAS were produced or used to manufacture other products
• Locations where firefighting foam was used for training, or car accidents
• Leachate from landfills (including informal dumping sites)
• Agricultural, commercial and residential application of PFAS-contaminated fertilizers (manufactured from municipal waste and sludge)

If you are concerned about the possibility of PFAS in your drinking water, contact us and we can provide you further information on testing.

Because PFAS don’t break down over time, they can build up in the environment and in our bodies.

Pregnant women, unborn fetus, and infants are the most susceptible to adverse health effects from PFAS. The two most common and studied forms of PFAS – PFOA and PFOS – have been associated with the following health effects:

• Difficulty becoming pregnant
• Low birth weight
• Pregnancy-induced hypertension/pre-eclampsia
• Preterm birth
• Delayed puberty
• Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Immune response suppression
• Altered liver
• Cardiovascular disease
• Chronic kidney disease
• Osteoarthrisis

The only way to know if PFAS is present in your water is to test. If you’re not sure about testing your water for PFAS, think about the area you live to assess risk factors. As of 12/1/2019, 46% of homes we tested were positive for PFAS. If you have children in the home or elderly folks using your drinking water, we would recommend testing. If you are concerned about your health and the health of your family, consider testing.

Our PFAS testing service includes:

• EPA 537 6 Analyses test plus Field Test Blank
• A comprehensive well system inspection
• A complete treatment system inspection
• Groundwater monitoring and measurements
• Expert guidance from our water quality specialists
• 6-Star customer service
• A comprehensive water quality report
  
  

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HEALTHY – The Environmental Working Group (EWG), a non-profit organization dedicated to protection of health and the environment, and their team of scientists, has set a drinking water health guideline of 1 part per trillion (ppt) for each PFAS. This is the level for which no known health risks exist. To learn more about EWG and their health guidelines and scientific references, visit www.ewg.org.

SAFE with RISKS, HIGHER RISK – MassDEP has proposed a limit of 20 ppt applicable to the SUM of the concentrations of six PFAS analytes: PFBS, PFHpA, PFHxS, PFNA, PFOS & PFOA. This proposed limit is a Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) allowed in Public Water Systems (PWS) before action is necessary.

In determining the MCL, MassDEP takes two factors into consideration: health impacts and the cost of treatment solutions for public water systems throughout Massachusetts. The reason there is health risk allowed is because the cost to treat PFAS contaminants in huge public water quantities can be extremely expensive. Treating PFAS in private wells is dramatically different than public water systems.

Neither EPA or MassDEP has established a Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG) – the level at which NO known health risks exist – for any individual or combination of PFAS.

To learn more about how MassDEP sets their PFAS standard, please visit www.mass.gov.