Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)

What is PFAS?

Perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) are fluorinated organic chemicals that are part of a larger group of man-made chemicals referred to as per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which are generally resistant to heat, water, and oil. They have been used extensively in consumer products such as carpets, clothing, fabrics for furniture, paper packaging for food, fire-fighting foams, and other materials (e.g., cookware) designed to be water proof, stain-resistant or non-stick.

These chemicals are persistent, which means they do not break down in the environment. Some PFAS can also bioaccumulate, meaning the amount builds up over time in the blood and organs. Studies in animals who were exposed to PFAS found links between the chemicals and increased cholesterol, changes in the body’s hormones and immune system, decreased fertility, and increased risk of certain cancers.

How can PFAS affect me?

PFAS can get into drinking water when products containing them are used or spilled onto the ground or into lakes and rivers. PFAS move easily through the ground, getting into ground water that may be used for water supplies or for private drinking water wells. Such contamination is typically localized and associated with a specific facility, such as an industrial facility where these chemicals were manufactured or used in other products, or an air field which used the chemicals for firefighting. People can also be exposed to PFAS through food, food packaging, consumer products, and house dust.

What has been done?

Between 2000 and 2002, PFOS was voluntarily phased out of production in the U.S. by its primary manufacturer. Beginning in 2006 other manufacturers began to voluntarily limit the number of on-going uses. Although most of the PFAS chemicals are no longer manufactured in the United States, other countries still produce PFOA and PFOS and products that contain them may be imported, such as carpets, leather and apparel, textiles, paper and packaging, coatings, rubber, and plastics.

PFOA and PFOS Notification Levels:
In May 2016, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S.EPA) issued a lifetime health advisory for PFOS and PFOA for drinking water, advising municipalities that they should notify their customers of the presence of levels over 70 parts per trillion in community water supplies. U.S.EPA recommended that customer notifications include information on the increased risk to health, especially for susceptible populations.

In June 2018, California’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) recommended interim notification levels for PFOA (based on liver toxicity, as well as cancer risks), and for PFOS (based on immunotoxicity). OEHHA made these recommendations following its review of currently available health-based advisories and standards and supporting documentation. After independent review of the available information on the risks, the Water Board Division of Drinking Water (DDW) established notification levels for PFOS and PFOA (13 parts per trillion for PFOS and 14 parts per trillion for PFOA), as well as a single health advisory response level which offers a margin of protection for all persons throughout their life from adverse health effects resulting from exposure to PFOA and PFOS in drinking water. When possible, DDW recommends removing the source from service or providing treatment when the concentration exceeds a notification level. DDW recommends removing the source from service when the concentration level cannot be reduced below the response level of 70 ppt.

Additional efforts in California by other CalEPA agencies are included below:

• OEHHA Proposition 65
• DTSC Safer Consumer Products