by
Dr. Jennifer L. Jermalowicz-Jones, CLP, CLM, Restorative Lake Sciences,
Taylor Suttorp, MS, Restorative Lake Sciences
Lorenne Gilbert, BS, Restorative Lake Sciences
Background
With the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, pollution has become an ever-growing issue. Many synthetic chemicals that were created for the ease of business and industry have been discovered over the past fifty years to have negative impacts on the environment, wildlife, and human health. One current class of synthetic chemicals that has been found to cause irreparable damage are what are known as “forever chemicals” or PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). PFAS refers to an organic chemical with a fluoride atom attached to a carbon atom chain and is one of the strongest bonds in organic chemistry. This leads to its popular use in industry for repelling water and oil, as well as resisting heat and chemical reactions. PFAS chemicals like PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) and PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate) are resistant to any kind of degradation which allows these compounds to stay and build up in the environment indefinitely. With the inability to break down, this not only leads to environmental pollution and toxicity, but also impacts human health.
Exposure
PFAS and other forever chemicals are introduced to the environment in many different ways. Water, soil, and air can become contaminated with PFAS from industrial spills from manufacturing sites, firefighting foam during training or emergencies, and leaching from landfills. PFAS can travel long distances as small traces have been found as far away as the Arctic and in all oceans, and they accumulate over time. PFAS can contaminate drinking water when products that are manufactured with forever chemicals are used or spilled into lakes and rivers. The most common exposure to PFAS is ingestion from food and drinking water. Produce, meat, eggs, and dairy can become contaminated by exposure near PFAS manufacturing sites and accumulation within crop soil for produce and feed, as well as water sources for livestock and fish. The United States has stopped producing PFAO and PFOS within the last two decades, but consumer products made with these forever chemicals are found through imported goods. PFAS manufacturing companies have switched to using other PFAS substitutes like PFBS (Per-fluoro butane sulfonic acid) and PFBA (Per-fluoro butyrate) that consist of shorter carbon chains, but there hasn’t been enough data collected to know the long-term risks.
Sources of PFAS in Inland Lakes
If PFAS is detected in inland waters, the sources usually originate from industrial effluents or from chemicals that enter storm drains that empty into the water bodies. Additional sources may include usage of water repellent industrial or household chemicals that are dumped onto lawns or in drains or from some substances entering the lake from septic systems that leach through the drain fields. While PFAS may result in a whitish-colored foam, much of the time such foam is comprised of dissolved organic matter that is natural for inland lakes and not a pollutant. For this reason, it is always recommended to conduct PFAS testing to confirm the presence and concentration of PFAS.
Side Effects
Health issues from PFAS exposure can consist of pregnancy complications such as fertility issues, preeclampsia, and fetal and child development. PFAS has been classified as a carcinogen, and studies found that exposure can increase risks of testicular and kidney cancer, as well as other cancers. Other side effects from PFAS exposure are high cholesterol, liver damage, thyroid disease, and asthma. Studies have shown that most people have been exposed to low levels of PFAS due to the common use and accumulation around the world. However, these risks are associated with high concentration, duration, and frequency with exposure to PFAS and other forever chemicals.
Mitigation and Monitoring
The carbon chains in forever chemicals are so strong that current water treatment plants are unable to filter them out. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is experimenting with new ways to remove PFAS by using charcoal (granular activated carbon or GAC) absorption, ion exchange resins, and reverse osmosis through high-pressure membranes. These filters can be applied at water entry points for water treatment facilities, hospitals, individual buildings, and homes. They are available for purchase by the average consumer, but it is important to note that they do not currently meet the new requirements that EPA has established for drinking water standards. However, they are still highly recognized for reducing exposure to PFAS in drinking water. For water that is suspected to be contaminated with PFAS, samples can be sent to certified labs that use Method 573, EPA’s requirement for testing for PFAS.
As for mitigating contaminated soil, switching to crops that take up less PFAS and adding protection between livestock and the soil are practices that are currently being studied to limit exposure in food.
With common consumer goods like microwave popcorn, nonstick cookware, cleaning products, take-out containers, and fast-food wrappers regularly being manufactured with PFAS, limiting use of these items and researching companies that provide PFAS-free options will help keep exposure at low levels. Using high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters and vacuuming regularly can help remove PFAS particles from the air and dust.
When working with, or in dose proximity to, PFAS chemicals, it is important to wear PPE (personal protective equipment) to; help minimize exposure. Blood tests can be taken to monitor PFAS levels in the body if health issues are suspected to be related to exposure.
Conclusions
Exposure to PFAS, and other forever chemicals seems to be inevitable as they are found almost everywhere due to the chemical’s resilience, ability to travel, accumulation, and lack of degradation over time. However, the best way to limit exposure is to opt for products and practices that are PFAS-free, using PFAS water filters, researching local exposure in public and private waterways, and participating in and advocating for policies that regulate PFAS manufacturing and exposure. Continue to inform others and encourage more studies to be conducted on the long-term effects that PFAS and other forever chemicals have on the environment and public health.
If there is concern for PFAS water contamination, an 18-analyte test kit that uses EPA Method 537.1 can be purchased from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) Drinking Water Laboratory for $290. This kit can be ordered directly by calling 517-335-8184 and includes a return UPS shipping label.
Additionally, a Great Lakes PFAS Action Network has been created for safer fish consumption through mapping of Michigan lakes that contain PFOS. This site is regularly updated as new data is collected and can be found at https://www.glpan.org/