Contact us

PFOA/PFOS in Drinking Water

Exposure to unsafe levels of PFOA/PFOS concentrations through drinking water may result in health effects.

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic (PFOS) acid are part of a group of chemicals commonly referred to as perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) or perfluorinated compounds (PFCs). PFOA and PFOS are man-made chemicals that up until 2000 had been widely used in the manufacturing of many industrial and consumer products such as paper and cardboard food packaging, insecticides, electronics, stain repellants, paints, plumbing tape, firefighting foam and non-stick cooking surfaces.

Prior to phasing PFOA and PFOS out of production around the globe, large quantities were released into the environment during manufacturing processes and are now being found in drinking water supplies near current or former manufacturing locations as well as use areas such as airports.

Potential Health Effects from PFOA and PFOS

Exposure to unsafe levels of PFOA/PFOS concentrations through drinking water may result in health effects including developmental effects to fetuses during pregnancy, cancer, liver effects, immune effects and thyroid effects.1

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has established a lifetime of exposure health advisory at 70 parts per trillion (ppt) for both PFOA and PFOS in drinking water. This EPA health advisory level was established to provide a margin of protection to all Americans as well as those who are immuno-compromised or in special populations (elderly, children).1 Europe and other regions have been reviewing limits for their public drinking water as well.

What to Do If There Is a PFOA/PFOS Water Advisory

Don't boil your water.2 Boiling water that contains PFOA/PFOS will actually concentrate the contaminant. Follow the advice of your municipal water authority regarding using water for drinking, cooking, bathing, dish washing, providing to pets or filtering during the advisory.

How to Reduce PFOA/PFOS in Drinking Water

To comply with the standards, a device must reduce PFOA and PFOS concentrations in water to below the 70 parts per trillion (ppt) health advisory level set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Devices must also comply with material and physical requirements of NSF/ANSI 53: Drinking Water Treatment Units – Health Effects or NSF/ANSI 58: Reverse Osmosis Drinking Water Treatment Systems. Certified products must be retested periodically and manufacturing facilities must be inspected every year, which ensures products continue to meet all requirements.

In accordance with these standards, NSF verifies that:

  • The contaminant reduction claims for PFOA and PFOS shown on the label are true.
  • The system does not add anything harmful to the water.
  • The system does not leak.
  • The product labeling, advertising and literature are not misleading.

To make a PFOA/PFOS reduction claim, a water filter must be able to reduce these chemicals to below the EPA healthy advisory limit of 70 parts per trillion. Certified products must be retested periodically and manufacturing facilities must be inspected every year, which ensures products continue to meet all requirements.

To find products that are certified by NSF to reduce PFOA/PFOS in drinking water, see NSF’s certification listings.

Sources:

1 www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-06/documents/drinkingwaterhealthadvisories_pfoa_pfos_updated_5.31.16.pdf

2 www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-05/documents/pfoa_health_advisory_final_508.pdf

How NSF Can Help You

Get in touch to find out how we can help you and your business thrive.

What’s New with NSF