Nowadays it is not unusual to fill a glass of water from your tap and ask yourself which chemicals and contaminants can lurk in there. This is because research has increasingly shown that heavy metals, radioactive substances and harmful PFAs (“Forever Chemicals”) are present in our water systems.
“It turns out that millions of people have Pfas in their drinking water”, ” Tracey WoodruffDirector of the Program for Productive Health and Environment at the University of California in San Francisco tells Assets.
The Environmental work group (EEC) found that around 60% of the US population – around 200 million people – are operated by water systems that have the chemicals Pfoa or Pfos in their drinking water in a concentration of 1 part per trillion or higher, which is the maximum limit for PFAs in drinking water that has been attacked by the EEC.
“It is widespread,” says Woodruff.
Also referred to as “Forever Chemicals” are Pfas shorts for per and polyfluoralkyls substance chemicals that are widespread in manufacture that are poisonous for humans and animals and are slowly collapsing over time, hence their “Forever” pimples. It is also known that they are Endocrine disruptorsChemicals that disturb our endocrine systems that control the hormones of the body – such as insulin, testosterone and estrogen – and numerous body functions, including metabolism and blood sugar regulation.
Knowing that chemicals are in their water is one thing – but should you worry? And can you do something to reduce your exposure? Here is everything you need to know, according to experts who have spoken to that Assets.
How do Pfas chemicals get in drinking water?
There are various ways of how PFAS chemicals can get into drinking water according to the environmental and health scientist Mindi Messmer.
Potential sources include:
- Industrial locations that use PFAs in their production
- Dowels of land -especially disassembled -that PfAS chemicals can laugh about in groundwater
- Biological waste that is used as a fertilizer on the ground that can contain Pfas
- Military bases with fire training areas that use PfAS-containing aqueous film-forming foam to extinguish flames
“It’s a selection of things,” says Messmer Assets.
“If it is deposited on the floor because it collapses over a very long period of time, the PFAS contamination could stop forever and accumulate,” says Woodruff Assets. “That is why it is really important that these types of chemicals are not brought into the environment or are not even produced primarily.”
According to Messmer, most municipalities have to send PFAS test data to the environmental protection authority. To find out whether PFAS chemicals were found in your water supply, you can check that EEC databaseOr contact your local water system to find out.
Are Pfas harmful?
After Environmental protection authorityPFAS chemicals are associated with the following potential health effects:
- Reduced fertility or increased high blood pressure in pregnant women.
- Development effects or delays in children, including low birth weight, accelerated puberty, bone fluctuations or changes in behavior.
- Increased risk of some types of cancer, including prostate, kidneys and testicular cancer.
- Increased immune system, inhibited the body’s ability to combat infections and reduce the vaccine reaction.
- Hormon disorder.
- Increased cholesterol and/or risk of obesity.
Woodruff is particularly concerned about low birth weight in newborns, which affects one of the most endangered population groups.
“Although Pfas does not cause child mortality, it increases the risk of a disease that dies the risk of an infant,” she says.
Other potential health effects are still being examined, added Woodruff, including connections to breast cancer and pregnancy diabetes.
If you are concerned or know that you were exposed to PFAS chemicals National Academy of Sciences Developed clinical guidelines to test your blood on PfAS mirrors and to work on how you can take steps forward with your provider.
“At least now we know more than before,” says Messmer.
Are PFAS chemicals regulated in drinking water?
Last year the bid administration said goodbye to the first ever National drinking water standard For Pfas chemicals.
The EPA of this administration announced borders for five individual PFAs: Pfoa, Pfos, Pfna, PfHXs and HFPO-DA (also known as “GenX Chemicals”). Every type of PFAS chemical varies in the chain length, the structure and the way they interact in the human body. The rule also sets a border for mixtures of two or more of four PFAs: PFNA, PFHXs, PFBS and GENX chemicals. However, Woodruff points out that there are 15,000 potential PFAS chemicals out there, so that other non -regulated PFAS chemicals can give water in some people.
Especially for Pfoa and Pfos, the EPA stated the maximum contamination values to 4.0 parts per billion, but indicated that they have a “non -enforced, health -based goal” of zero, based on research that “no extent to exposure to these contaminants without the risk of health effects, including certain cancer. Billion.
Recently the Trump administration announced They would maintain the limits for just two of the five PFAS chemicals, but delay the enforcement. They also stated to re -evaluate the regulation for the other four chemicals.
“It is really important that the government does its job,” says Woodruff. “That’s why these cuts to the EPA are so bad.”
Can you remove PFAs from your tap water?
Unfortunately, you can’t do much to free PFAs from your tap water, say Woodruff and Messmer. Messmer knows that your tap water contains PFAS – and decided to invest 7,000 US dollars in a home filtration system for her entire house.
It is possible that regular water filters reduce their PFAS exposure: the EEC evaluated the effectiveness of domestic water filters and Four found That could do the work.
Messmer and Woodruff also encourage their local water district to find out the PFAS levels in their water supply, and asks them to clean it up if possible. If you use a private fountain or are on a much smaller water system, Messmer encourages to test the water for PFAs yourself.
Some people can choose to change water in bottles. At the beginning of this year the FDA tested 197 water samples in bottles for 18 types of Pfas, including the six in the chemicals regulated according to the safe drinking water law. While 10 samples were tested positively on Pfas, none of the maximum contamination mirror (MCLS) defined by the EPA for drinking water exceeded. However, it is important to consider Microplasticswhich are equipped with their own potential negative health effects Brain healthPresent fertilityand the Intestinal (Not to mention the surroundings).
Ultimately, regulation of the government is the best solution, say experts.
“There is only a certain control you have about it,” says Messmer. “We have earned our government to take measures to protect us.”
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