The environment protection agency in the US says we have to remove forever chemicals (PFAS) from our water supply. Just recently the EPA set new guidelines as to how much PFAS the EPA allows to be in drinking water. This is what this article reviewed.
Usage of PFAS in consumer products
Originally, pan manufacturers used PFAS to coat pans under the name “Teflon pans”. PFAS stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. These are a large group of man-made chemicals that are widely in use in industry and in consumer products. They make products resistant to water, grease and stains. In addition, they protect products against fire. Industry employs a wide variety of products with PFAS, to make outdoor apparel waterproof, stain-resistant upholstery and carpets. On the other hand, PFAS can improve food packaging to prevent liquid or grease from leaking through. Firefighting equipment often also contains PFAS.
The U.S. Geological Survey estimates that 45% of tap water in the US has contamination with PFAS. The 3M company, which makes PFAS was involved in a lawsuit that was settled for 10.3 billion $.
Health effects of exposure to PFAS
PFAS contributes to thyroid disease, elevated cholesterol, liver damage, and kidney and testicular cancer. The PFAS molecules get easily taken up in your body and stay around for a long time. This is why the chemical compound is accumulating. Recently, 98% of the public tested in the US had PFAS in their system.
Remove forever chemicals (PFAS) from our water supply
A filter with ion exchange resin can filter the water of your whole house. It removes PFAS and many other contaminants. It is the same technology as a water softener. With this system in place a plumber can install a reverse osmosis filter near the kitchen sink. It uses a membrane technology where PFAS cannot pass through. It delivers drinking water of the same purity as commercial water containers. Don’t rely on commercially obtained water as a study showed that 39 out of 100 commercial bottled water containers contained PFAS. Another problem is that the bottled water containers are under the jurisdiction of the FDA, not the EPA. Presently the FDA has no standards for PFAS. The bottom line is that your home filter technology is superior to commercial water filtration.
EPA regulations
With the new EPA standards established in April of 2024 there are now enforceable limits of PFAS in place. These limits are between 4 and 10 parts per trillion for PFOS, PFOA, PFHxS, PFNA and GenX. This is less than a drop of water in a thousand Olympic-sized swimming pools, which speaks to the chemicals’ toxicity. Tests of various water systems in the US were performed. It is the East Coast region of the US that has the most contaminated water systems exceeding the EPA limits significantly. Under EPA guidelines public water systems have until 2027 to monitor for PFAS contamination. If tests show PFAS levels exceeding the new EPA levels, they have until 2029 to install treatment systems.
Remove Forever Chemicals (PFAS) from our Water Supply
Conclusion
New EPA PFAS limits for drinking water came into effect in April 2024. PFAS are the “forever chemicals” that pollute our environment. Originally, PFAS was used to coat pans under the name “Teflon pans”. PFAS stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. These are a large group of man-made chemicals that are widely in use in industry and in consumer products. They make products resistant to water, grease and stains. In addition, they protect products against fire. PFAS contributes to thyroid disease, elevated cholesterol, liver damage, and kidney and testicular cancer. Recently a survey in the US found that 98% of the people tested positive for PFAS.
How to remove PFAS from your drinking water
The best way to remove PFAS from your home water system is by a filter with ion exchange resin. Such a filter can remove PFAS and other toxins from the water of your whole house. It is the same technology as a water softener. A reverse osmosis filter can be installed near the kitchen sink. It uses a membrane technology where PFAS cannot pass through. It delivers drinking water of the same purity as commercial water containers. Although it is expensive to purify water and remove PFAS, it is possible to protect your family from PFAS through these technologies.
