An Essential Guide to PFAS (Forever Chemicals) in Your Company’s Drinking Water
November 27, 2023
Recent studies indicated that PFASs, or “Forever Chemicals,” exist in roughly 45% of the nation's tap water and 60% of tested well water in 16 states. In this guide, we will explain what PFASs are, their negative impact on your health, and how to protect your employees and customers from them.
What are PFAS?
PFAS stands for Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. PFASs are man-made chemicals made with carbon-fluorine bonds, which make them highly stable and resistant to heat, water, and oil. They are often called "forever chemicals" because they do not break down easily in the environment or the human body.
PFASs can be found all around us, and we can be exposed to them in various ways. These include but are not limited to:
Drinking water
Some types of extinguisher foam
Contaminated food and food packaging
Contaminated soils and biosolids
PFASs Are Harmful to Your Health And Business
The most common way you will be exposed to PFASs is through eating or drinking contaminated products. These chemicals are tasteless, odorless, and can enter the bloodstream through your intestinal tract. From there, they linger in your blood, fat cells, proteins, and liver. Studies have shown that this carries a wide range of health risks, like
Hormonal imbalances
Increased cholesterol levels and risks of obesity
Impaired immunity and reduced vaccine responses
Developmental issues in the young
Increased risks of cancer, including in the kidneys and prostate
These risks also have an effect on your business, as reduced immunity can lead to more sick days and increased numbers of your employees becoming sick at the same time during peak contagion seasons. This also affects the costs of healthcare as employees struggle with long-term ailments. Industries may also face legal battles and regulatory fines as government regulations continue to crack down on exposing employees and consumers to these chemicals.
How to Remove PFASs From Your Drinking Water
The best way to remove PFASs from your water supply is based on the kind of PFAS you are dealing with. This will require an EPA methodized lab test based on what you are trying to regulate.
Granulated Activated Carbon (GAC) filters and carbon block filters work well for older and longer PFAS chain molecules like Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), but they become less efficient on shorter chains.
Reverse Osmosis (OS) works very well against short chains, and their efficiency can be increased with an activated charcoal stage. However, they use more water than other water treatment methods.
Anion exchange works well against short chains of PFAS by attracting and holding the compounds as they pass through the filter.
Distillation removes all PFAS compounds, but it also removes all the beneficial minerals at the same time.
Common methods like boiling, water softeners, and most standard pitcher or fridge water filters are not efficient in removing PFAS. Some pitcher filters may remove some, but they are not currently certified to do so.
When you look for an ideal filtration solution, make sure it meets NSF/ANSI standards for PFAS removal.
Sparkling Clear is Dedicated to Keeping Your Water Free of Forever Chemicals
Since 1985, our mission is and will continue to be doing right by you. As knowledge and science expand on forever chemicals, we will also evolve to help you maintain a standard of health and excellence in your water. Contact us today to learn more.
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