Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl compounds, or PFAS, are a global developing issue for water safety. Due to their resistance to heat, water, and oil, these synthetic chemicals—often called “forever chemicals”—are widely employed in various sectors and consumer goods. However, because of their resilience, they have become invasive in the ecosystem, which has led to worries about their contamination of drinking water.
What Are PFAS Chemicals?
A broad class of artificial compounds known as pervasive flame-retardant additives (PFAS) is found in food packaging, food-grade silicones, non-stick cookware, and industrial uses. They are useful in many goods because of their resistance to oil and water, which means they decompose slowly in the natural world. They thus gradually accumulate in soil, air, and water.
There are close to 15,000 PFAS chemicals, according to the database maintained by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). However, PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) and PFOS (perfluorooctanesulfonic acid) are two of the most prevalent and extensively studied. It has been shown that both of these remain in the environment long after they are first used. This might be dangerous for the ecosystem as well as for human health. Besides PFOA and PFOS, here are some other toxic PFAS chemicals that are strictly monitored by the EPA:
- PFNA
- PFHxS
- HFPO-DA ⌈GenX⌉
- PFBS
- PFBA
- PFHxA
Therefore, the EPA has considered mostly these PFAS chemicals in its first final national primary drinking regulation list. The list restricts the presence of these substances in drinking water across the USA. The PFOA and PFOS chemicals are restricted to 4 parts per trillion, while the others are restricted to 10 parts.
How Does PFAS Enter the Water Supply?
The usage of items containing these chemicals, industrial discharges, and landfill runoff are the main causes of PFAS contamination of drinking water. Water systems that are particularly susceptible are those found close to waste treatment facilities, airports, military sites, and industry facilities. Here are some ways through which PFAS enters waterbodies and tap water.
Firefighting Foam and PFAS Contamination
Firefighting foam, especially aqueous film-forming foams (AFFF), which firefighters use to put out large-scale flames, has been a major source of PFAS contamination. These foams, which are made of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), are widely employed in industrial, airport, and military training environments. They work well when sprayed on fires because they keep oxygen from getting to the flames.
Nevertheless, the foam’s PFAS readily seeps into the surrounding ground and water sources. Since AFFF is used for an extended period of time, several military bases and airports have reported significant amounts of PFAS in local groundwater. These locations frequently turn into persistent sources of pollution that have an impact on nearby water resources.
It is also due to this reason that many firefighters who are constantly exposed to AFFF are developing severe illnesses. According to TruLaw, many of them have filed lawsuits for health problems like cancers, reproductive issues, decrease in infant birth weights, etc. These plaintiffs allege that AFFF manufacturers and the government didn’t warn them of the adverse health effects of the exposure.
A recent AFFF lawsuit update shows that a group of 12 firefighters filed cases against leading manufacturers in September 2024. They allege severe health concerns like prostate cancer, kidney cancer, and leukemia due to exposure. There has also been news about contamination in Grand Prairie, Texas, and Cape Fear River.
Industrial Discharges and Waste Management
PFAS-producing and -using industries frequently release their waste into adjacent soil or water bodies. Manufacturing facilities that produce coatings, stain repellents, and firefighting foam have the potential to discharge significant volumes of PFAS into the environment. These substances have the potential to leach into surface or groundwater, which are typical supplies of tap water for many areas.
Furthermore, contamination may result from landfills storing trash from items containing PFAS. These substances stay in the soil or water for decades because they do not biodegrade. Rainwater can introduce PFAS-filled particles into aquifers, rivers, and streams, opening up a channel for the chemicals to get into sources of drinking water.
According to the Department of Ecology, municipal wastewater treatment plants and industrial facilities are the two primary sources. These are the categories of wastewater discharges that are most likely to include some amount of PFAS above the standard levels. The effluent from almost all municipal wastewater treatment plants contains detectable amounts of PFAS. The primary majority of those PFAS enter the facilities from upstream sources, including industry, home goods, and human waste.
Agricultural Runoff and Biosolids
A byproduct of wastewater treatment facilities called biosolids is occasionally applied as fertilizer in farming. If these chemicals have been present in the water the facility treats, then these biosolids may include PFAS. PFAS applied to farmlands has the potential to seep into the soil and eventually find its way into the surface or groundwater through runoff.
In certain areas, using irrigation systems that draw water from polluted sources by farmers can potentially lead to PFAS contamination in agricultural activities. The contaminants can spread much farther by building up in crops or washing into nearby rivers.
Can PFAS Be Removed From Drinking Water?
Removing PFAS from the water supply becomes difficult once they are there. Typically, conventional water treatment facilities lack the necessary equipment to efficiently filter out these contaminants. While bacteria, sediments, and other common pollutants are the main targets of most typical filtering operations, they don’t impact PFAS molecules.
On the other hand, cutting-edge treatment methods, including reverse osmosis, ion exchange, and activated carbon filtration, have demonstrated promise in removing PFAS from water. Although these systems are costly to install and operate, they are capable of capturing a large variety of PFAS chemicals. They are, therefore, not yet common, especially in smaller or less affluent towns.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are PFAS filtered out of tap water?
An illustration of a water treatment system with GAC filtration is included. Granular activated carbon is a popular drinking water treatment technique (GAC). Numerous public water utilities employ this technique because it is quite successful in eliminating a variety of toxins from drinking water, including some PFAS.
How much PFAS is in tap water?
According to a recent U.S. Geological Survey investigation, at least 45% of the country’s tap water is thought to contain PFAS. This excess amount of PFAS in tap water can cause numerous health problems, including cancers, reproductive issues, etc.
Can boiling water remove PFAS?
No, boiling water cannot remove PFAS chemicals from it because they are resistant to heat. Despite the fact that many households have iron or whole-house water softening, sample results show that PFAS are not removed by those systems. Water is forced through a membrane with small holes using reverse osmosis, which consumes energy.
The issue of PFAS pollution in tap water will need concerted efforts from individuals, businesses, and governments. PFAS contamination is becoming more widely known, and attempts are being made to eliminate it. However, it will take years to solve the issue because these chemicals are tenacious. Reducing PFAS levels in drinking water and preserving public health need ongoing research, stronger laws, and investments in water treatment technology.
