PFAS in Drinking Water

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), chemicals produced in the United States since the 1940s, are used for applications ranging from firefighting to stain and waterproofing of consumer products such as carpet, clothing, and food packaging. Some PFAS are no longer made due to environmental and human health concerns, but they persist in the environment and may contaminate surface waters and groundwaters near sites where they were made or used. Newer PFAS are produced in the U.S., even though little is known about their potential effects on human health and the environment.

Most of what is known about PFAS-related health effects comes from studies of humans and animals exposed to perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS). PFOA and PFOS are no longer produced in the U.S. but continue to be detected in human blood. Newer PFAS that remain in production have also been detected in human blood. Exposure to high levels of PFAS in contaminated drinking water may result in the following health effects:

• Increased cholesterol levels
• Changes in liver enzymes
  
• Hormone disruption and increased risk for thyroid disease
  
• Decreased odds of women becoming pregnant
  
• High blood pressure or pre-eclampsia during pregnancy
  
• Small decreases in infant birth weights
  
• Decreased vaccine response in children
  
• Increased risk of kidney or testicular cancers
  

A blood test can determine if you have been exposed to PFAS, but these tests cannot tell how much PFAS you have been exposed to or if adverse health effects will occur. If you have health concerns about exposure to PFAS in your drinking water, consult your doctor.

There are no federal drinking water standards for PFAS in public water supplies. However, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) has developed health-based guidance levels for PFOA, PFOS, hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS), perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), and perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA), which are provided below in parts per trillion (ppt). The guidance levels below are not drinking water standards, but you may have an increased risk for PFAS-related health effects when the level of PFAS in your drinking water exceeds them.

In 2020, IEPA began testing all Illinois community water supplies to determine the prevalence and magnitude of PFAS in drinking water. Though private wells and non-community water supplies were not part of statewide testing, nearby community water supply test results may indicate a potential for private well and non-community water supply contamination. Community water supply test results can be found on IEPA’s Drinking Water Watch or PFAS Interactive Dashboard and Map websites. If you live near a community where PFAS have been detected in the community water supply or a site where PFAS may have been released, you may contact the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) or your local health department for assistance in conducting your own testing.

PFAS can be removed from drinking water with in-home treatment technologies, such as carbon filtration and reverse osmosis. Carbon filters can be installed at the point-of-use, such as your kitchen faucet or refrigerator, or the point-of-entry to your home. Carbon filters are also available with filtered water pitchers. Likewise, reverse osmosis systems can be installed under your kitchen sink to treat water primarily used for drinking or cooking. In-home treatment may not always reduce PFAS below levels of concern, as the effectiveness of treatment is largely based on the amount of PFAS contamination and continued maintenance of the treatment system. To maximize the effectiveness of PFAS removal, IDPH recommends installing treatment systems certified by the National Sanitation Foundation and following the manufacturer’s maintenance instructions.