Increased Incidence of PFAS in Drinking Water a Growing Concern

Are you confident in the safety of your facility’s drinking water? Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), colorless and tasteless man-made chemicals commonly used in hundreds of consumer products, have been a growing concern for drinking water safety in recent years, ABC News reports.

Commonly associated with firefighting foam, PFAS also are found in stain- and water-repellent fabrics, nonstick products, polishes, waxes, paints, and cleaning products. PFAS are very persistent in the environment and in the human body—they don’t break down and they can accumulate over time. There is evidence that exposure to PFAS can lead to adverse human health effects, including high cholesterol levels and cancer, especially kidney and testicular cancer. Exposure to PFAS also has been linked to negative effects on the immune system and liver and low infant birth weights.

Although the health concerns around PFAS are not new, there has been an increased detection of the chemicals in water systems nationwide. PFAS have been found in the water samples of 2,790 communities across 49 states, according to an analysis by the Environmental Working Group (EWG), an independent research and consumer watchdog organization pushing to limit exposure to chemicals through water, food, and household products. In July, the city of Tucson, Arizona, abruptly shut down a major water treatment facility that delivered drinking water to 60,000 residents because of a sudden surge in PFAS contamination.

These incidences have begun to alarm state and local leaders and prompted Congress to consider urgent action.

For more information: 

PFAS 101: Everything You Need to Know About ‘Forever Chemicals’
https://www.ecowatch.com/pfas-forever-chemicals-explainer.html