Per and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)

Per and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)

Source
Risk
Filtration
Technology

PFAS, which stands for per and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a group of synthetic chemicals that have been used in many everyday products since the 1940s. These include things like firefighting foam, non-stick pans, water and stain-resistant fabrics, fast food packaging, and personal care products. PFAS don’t break down easily, which makes them useful, but also means they stick around in our environment for a long time, earning them the nickname “forever chemicals.”

What are PFAS and where do we find them?

As mentioned above, PFAS compounds are used in many different commonly used products. Two of the PFAS that have been found in Wisconsin’s drinking water, PFOA and PFOS, have been phased out of commercial products. However, they can still be found in our environment as PFAS does not break down easily. Explore the links below to learn more about how PFAS are used and their impacts.

  • This UW-Madison Division of Extension story map provides an introduction to PFAS, as well as highlights the stories of people across the state who study PFAS or have been impacted by PFAS.
  • The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) maintains a dashboard explaining their work with PFAS in our state. Find community resources, consumption advisories, and updates on PFAS in Wisconsin. 
  • The Wisconsin DNR PFAS Interactive Data Viewer provides insight into where PFAS has been found around the state.

How can PFAS impact my health?

There are many ways people can come into contact with PFAS, such as drinking contaminated water, eating contaminated food, breathing in or swallowing contaminated dust, or using products that contain PFAS. The Wisconsin Department of Health Resources (DHS) warns that long term exposure to PFAS compounds can increase the risk of:

  • Increased cholesterol levels.
  • Increased risk of thyroid disease.
  • Increased risk of some cancers.
  • Increased risk of pre-eclampsia or high blood pressure during pregnancy.
  • Lower infant birth weights (the decrease is small and may not affect health).

You can find more information about the health risks of PFAS exposure in the links below.

What are some ways I can avoid PFAS in my everyday life?

PFAS are used in many different consumer products, making it difficult to avoid without effort. There have been federal efforts to remove PFAS from certain products, such as food wrappers. However, other products continue to contain PFAS. The persistence of PFAS in our environment also means that PFAS from decades ago may still be found in our groundwater or soil. 

  • Find out if PFAS are in your drinking water.
    • If you are on a public water system, you can check your water system’s Consumer Confidence Report (CCR). Every year, your water system is required to publish a report of the previous year’s water quality. This report includes what the system tested for the previous year, such as bacteria, nitrates, metals or PFAS, and what concentrations were found. You can find it on your water system’s website by searching for the name of the water system and consumer confidence report.
    • You can also learn where the DNR has samplied groundwater and surface water for PFAS contamination and where PFAS advisories exist using thehe Wisconsin DNR PFAS Interactive Data Viewer.
    • If you are on a private well and are concerned about PFAS, the DNR maintains a list of water quality labs certified to test for PFAS.
      • We use something called a hazard index to calculate risk from PFAS. This is because PFAS compounds are often found in water as a mixture of many different kinds of compounds rather than one at a time. If you have tested a well for PFAS, you can plug your private well lab results into this tool to learn water your hazard index risk.
  • Avoid eating contaminated fish. PFAS has been found in some Wisconsin waterways and fish living in those environments can be exposed to PFAS. If consumed, they can expose us to PFAS. There are tools to help reduce the risk of exposure to PFAS from eating fish.

How to safely filter drinking water at home?

If you are concerned about the level of PFAS in your water, or are on a private well which has been impacted by PFAS, the Department of Health Services has developed a fact sheet for identifying the best type of filtration unit for your use. Depending on the amount of water you want to treat there are two main types of treatments:

  • Point-of-use systems: These systems treat water in one location, such as at a faucet. This kind of system is good for when you want to filter water for drinking and cooking. Some examples of point-of-use systems are granulated activated carbon filters or reverse osmosis and granulated activated carbon filters.
  • Point-of-entry systems: These systems treat water for the entire house. This type of filter is good for when you want to filter water for drinking, cooking, cleaning, and bathing. An example of of a point-of-entry system is granulated activated carbon filters.

You may also choose to pursue a countertop filtration system or a pitcher filter for PFAS, however these filter signficantly less water than a point-of-use or point-of-entry system. For any type of filter you purchase, check any treatment system to ensure that it is NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 certified before purchasing. This certification indicates the system can remove PFAS compounds from drinking water. You can use the National Sanitation Foundation’s online search tool to find an appropriate treatment device for your home.

All treatment systems require regular maintenance or they will become less effective over time. Follow instructions provided by the manufacturer for cleaning and maintenance and, if the device is connected to your plumbing, test your water after it is treated to ensure the filtration devices are working properly. Learn more about filtration systems through the following fact sheets:

How are water utilities removing PFAS from our water?

Public water systems in the United States must monitor for PFAS and provide their public with information regarding the levels of PFAS they found by 2027, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The EPA published their final PFAS national primary drinking water regulations in April of 2024.

Currently, utilities have three primary technologies they use  for removing PFAS from water:

Information

Contact Information

Anya Jeninga
Emerging Contaminants Outreach Specialist
Email: anya.jeninga@wisc.edu
Phone: (920) 391-4612

Helpful Resources

PFAS in Wisconsin Story Map

Return to emerging contaminant page

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