PFAS In Your Water: What Are They, and What Can You Do About Them?

July 16, 2020 2 min read

PFAS In Your Water: What Are They, and What Can You Do About Them?

What are PFAS?

PFAS, short for a class of toxic chemicals known chiefly as polyfluoroalkyl, are found in a number of man-made objects and materials like jackets and nonstick pans. Through abrasion, improper disposal, accidents, and other means, these can wind up in the local water supply. Once there, they're nearly impossible to remove because they scatter, and because they keep so well. They don't break down easily or over a short amount of time. For this reason, new research has called PFAS the "Forever Chemical."

PFAS come with a range of health risks. PFAS has been shown in nascent studies and field discoveries to cause rare forms of cancer, autoimmune disorders, and other havoc.

What is being done about PFAS?

The United States government has been slow to act on PFAS. PFAS is still entering water supplies across the country as an industrial waste product, and the problem only seems to be accelerating. Other polyfluoroalkayl compounds have recently been banned, but many are still being investigated.

Local and federal governments in the United States are beginning to recognize the need to do something about PFAS contamination. New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu, for example, recently signed into law a stringent set of new standards for PFAS in drinking water. While this bill comes with funding for cleanup and filtration efforts, it will be a slow process. Many other government bodies on city, state, and federal levels are still deciding how to approach the PFAS crisis.

How can I filter PFAS?

The health risks associated with PFAS mostly affect those who ingest them. This means avoiding PFAS in your drinking water and cooking is crucial. This is where you can fight back. Filtration from your local water company is not adequate to remove PFAS. That's why it's important to have a filter you can rely on at home. Seychelle filters have been tested to remove PFAS from drinking water.

References:

https://www.epa.gov/pfas/basic-information-pfas

https://www.ewg.org/research/national-pfas-testing/