PFA’s and PFOA’s

 What you need to know about PFAs, PFOAs:

Chemical contaminants called PFAs, toxic to humans at minuscule doses, are the peak of the iceberg in threats to groundwater internationally.

Nitrates, industrial chemicals, and pathogens have been swept underground for decades. What else is in groundwater and seeping into drinking water? And what are the risks? Experts are calling the situation a “groundwater emergency.”

Media story?

• PFAS: Rainwater contains unsafe levels of ‘forever chemicals’ — medicalnewstoday.com.
• Pollution: ‘Forever chemicals’ in rainwater exceed safe levels — BBC News
• Simple method destroys dangerous ‘forever chemicals,’ making water safe — ScienceDaily
• Rainwater everywhere on Earth unsafe to drink due to ‘forever chemicals’, study finds — Euronews
• Scientists find a simple way to destroy ‘forever chemicals’ — by beheading them — Live Science
• Scientists Found an Easy Way To Destroy Toxic ‘Forever Chemicals’ (popularmechanics.com)

So what are PFAs, PFOAs

• Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of over 3,500 man-made chemicals that were developed after the Second World War.
  Since then, PFAS have been used in firefighting foam, non-stick skillets, water-repelling jackets, stain-resistant carpets, floor cleaners, waxes, paints, insect traps, and more.
• Perfluorinated compounds, a subgroup of PFAS, are extremely persistent in the environment. They have been called “forever chemicals” because the carbon-fluorine bond that holds the molecules together is the strongest chemical bond.
• Additionally, some PFAS compounds, particularly perfluoroalkyl acids (PFOA’s), are both mobile and bio-cumulative. This means they move quickly in groundwater, as well as build up in organisms faster than they are excreted.

What’s the issue?

• In addition to industrial production facilities, contaminated sites include military bases, fire stations, landfills, hospitals, and schools. All of these large institutions use foams or waxes or cleaners that contain the chemicals.
• In the U.S. the Department of Defense counts more than 400 active or closed bases with a known or suspected release of PFAS.
  The military has spent more than $210 million on cleanup so far.
• In Michigan, one of the worst-affected states, an estimated 1.8 million people have PFAS in their municipal water supplies. The level of contamination ranges from 1,800 parts per trillion (which was found in the city of Parchment) down to about two parts per trillion (found in the Grand Rapids water system).
• PFAS contamination in Michigan originated from numerous sites, including canneries, waste dumps, airbases, airports, and landfills.

The health risks of PFAs

• The impact of PFAs on human health is still poorly understood.
• PFAs contamination has been linked to high cholesterol, testicular cancer, kidney cancer, ulcerative colitis, thyroid problems, developmental problems, and the potential for miscarriages.

Who will clean up PFAs contamination?

• Amazingly, PFAS has not yet been designated as a hazardous substance by the EPA. Without this designation, the EPA has no authority to enforce cleanups or to fine the responsible parties.
• If a company has gone out of business or changed hands, a responsible party sometimes cannot be found. In that case, cleanup costs can be put on the taxpayer.

What’s the effects of PFAs, PFOAs

What other contaminants are threatening groundwater?

• Coal ash – Also known as coal combustion residuals, or CCRs, coal ash is the byproduct of burning coal. Often stored in large pits near rivers or lakes, coal ash contains a variety of pollutants including arsenic, selenium, boron, and cadmium. These can be toxic to humans and aquatic life if released into groundwater or surface water.
• Leaking septic systems – Bacterial waste, as well as chemicals used in homes, can be released into groundwater through leaking septic systems.
• Agricultural practices – chemicals and compounds used in agriculture, including nitrates and pesticides, are also contaminating groundwater.

In Australia

• The Australian Government said it was committed to supporting communities and responding effectively to PFAS contamination. In Katherina, NT, high levels have been detected. This is just one of many identified contaminated sites.
• This commitment has included reducing exposure from contaminated drinking water, providing mental health and counseling services, funding an epidemiological study into potential health effects and providing access to free blood tests for PFAS on a voluntary basis.

In USA

• PFAs are already recognized and a landmark case pursued by Erin Brokovitch has made in famous (or infamous) There are literally thousands of PFAS affected sites in the US.

Who do PFAS affect?

• In addition to industrial production facilities, contaminated sites include military bases, fire stations, landfills, hospitals, and schools. All of these large institutions use foams or waxes or cleaners that contain the chemicals.
• In the U.S. the Department of Defense counts more than 400 active or closed bases with a known or suspected release of PFAS.
  The military has spent more than $210 million on cleanup so far.
• In Michigan, one of the worst-affected states, an estimated 1.8 million people have PFAS in their municipal water supplies. The level of contamination ranges from 1,800 parts per trillion (which was found in the city of Parchment) down to about two parts per trillion (found in the Grand Rapids water system).
• PFAS contamination in Michigan originated from numerous sites, including canneries, waste dumps, airbases, airports, and landfills.

What can we do?

• Scientists are looking into solutions and the progress on finding a solution is going well.
• In the meantime there is a simple answer. We’ve researched methods of removal or filtering out PFAs at the home level, and have found a 10″ Hydroviv PFAs water filter (or pre-filter) that will remove them (PFAs Filter – Removes Toxic Chemicals).