Over the years, we have become used to the idea that the water in our homes is safe to drink. Yet drinking water is one of the most common ways that people are exposed to toxic PFAS. But how can you tell if your drinking water is contaminated? And if it is contaminated, what can you do about it?
How are so many water supplies contaminated with PFAS?
PFAS are often called “forever chemicals”, because they persist for so long in the environment. As a result, many water sources become contaminated with PFAS. This contamination is hard to remove during water treatment.
The result is that over 100M people in the US have high levels of PFAS in their drinking water, making it a major source of exposure for most people.
Why is PFAS such a problem?
PFAS have been linked with all sorts of major health conditions over the years. These include:
- Cancers of the kidney, pancreas, and testicles
- High cholesterol levels (dyslipidemia)
- Cardiovascular disease
- Ulcerative colitis
- Impotence
- Premature birth
- Reduced vaccine response
As we like to say, PFAS is becoming the new asbestos. Although the growing weight of evidence suggests that it may in fact be an even bigger health scandal!
What should you do if you have too much PFAS in your water?
PFAS compounds are remarkably hard to eliminate. Long chain PFAS like PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) can last for decades in the environment. Even shorter chain PFAS can last for months. So, what are your options if you have too much PFAS in your domestic water supply?
Find an alternative source of drinking water
The first thing to do is to stop using the water for drinking and preparing food. This is especially important if you have a baby or young children. Children consume larger amounts of food and water relative to their body weight than adults. If you are really concerned, you should also use alternative water sources for brushing your teeth. However, be aware that some bottled water has been found to contain high PFAS too.
Fit high-efficiency water filters
The next step is to install high-efficiency water filters that are certified as capable of reducing PFAS levels. This typically means filters that connect to your water supply where it enters the house. However, there are some handheld and countertop filters that may also work. The three main types of filters are:
- Reverse osmosis or other high pressure membrane filtration
- Ion exchange filters
- Activated charcoal filters
Typically, you need a filter system that combines more than one of these technologies to be effective. More information can be found on the EPA website.
Contact your local water utility
If your water is supplied by a utility company, you should reach out to them to ask what steps they are taking to reduce PFAS. There are EPA standards for the maximum levels of certain PFAS compounds, and guideline levels for some other compounds.
Other things you should know
There’s a couple of other things you can do if your water supply is contaminated. Firstly, you should learn a bit more about the risks of PFAS and work out if you are in one of the higher risk categories. Secondly, you should consider buying a blood test to check your own levels.
High risk groups
Anyone can be exposed to PFAS and in many cases you won’t even know. Indeed, almost every person in the US has PFAS in their blood right now. Most experts agree that low level exposure to PFAS is probably safe. Where there is less agreement is about who should worry most about PFAS exposure. However, the following groups should definitely be more concerned about PFAS.
- Anyone suffering from cardiovascular disease
- People with dyslipidemia or metabolic syndrome
- Anyone who has had cancer or who has a family history of cancers (especially kidney, pancreatic, or testicular cancer)
- Those with a history of inflammatory bowel disease
- Pregnant and young mothers
- Anyone planning to start a family
Blood testing
If you are worried about your PFAS exposure, you should consider getting a blood test. There are several options out there including ones needing a blood draw or home test kits like our PFAS Core Panel. This will allow you to check your exposure to a range of different PFAS compounds. The National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) has published guidance on safe levels of PFAS. Our app lets you compare your results against the guidance levels from NASEM. This will let you decide whether you need to worry about your own levels or not.
