What are PFAS?
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of chemicals used since the 1950s to make materials resistant to water, grease, and stains. PFAS are widely used in common consumer products, such as:
- Food packaging
- Non-stick cookware
- Water-resistant outdoor clothing
- Stain-resistant carpets
PFAS are also used in some firefighting foams and some industrial processes.
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluoro-octane sulfonate (PFOS) are the most widely produced PFAS chemicals. As a result, they are also the most studied.
How can I be exposed to PFAS?
PFAS stay in the environment for a long time and do not break down easily (and are often referred to as “forever chemicals”). As a result, PFAS are widely found in soil, water, air, and food.
PFAS in drinking water is an important issue nationwide. PFAS can seep into soil and then leach into nearby drinking water supplies. Contamination of drinking water with PFAS is often localized and associated with an industrial facility that produced the chemicals or where firefighting foam was used. PFAS have also been found in rivers, lakes, and wildlife, including fish. Some PFAS can accumulate in the food chain. PFAS can also build up in our bodies over time.
Nearly everyone is exposed to PFAS. Exposure can occur when we:
- Use certain consumer products that contain PFAS
- Eat PFAS-contaminated food
- Drink PFAS-contaminated water
- Swim in PFAS-contaminated surface water
Can PFAS affect my health?
Researchers have evaluated the potential for PFAS to cause adverse health effects. In animal studies, exposure to high levels of PFAS have been associated with effects on the liver, kidneys, immune system, thyroid, and developing fetus.
Based on the current scientific knowledge, exposure to PFAS may affect human health. The most consistent finding in studies of humans exposed to high levels of PFAS is increased cholesterol levels. Other possible effects include:
- Increased risk of high blood pressure or pre-eclampsia during pregnancy
- Decreased infant birth weights
- Decreased antibody response to vaccines in children
- Increased liver enzymes
Effects from exposure to PFAS depend on:
- How much PFAS a person is exposed to
- How often exposure occurs
- How long exposure lasts
- Personal factors such as age, sex, diet, lifestyle, and current health status
Some gaps still exist in the current scientific knowledge. For example, scientists are still learning about possible health effects from exposure to mixtures of PFAS.
What are the drinking water standards for PFAS?
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) set a Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) of 20 nanograms per liter (ng/L) or parts per trillion (ppt) for the sum of six specific PFAS. These are PFOA, PFOS, perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorohepatanoic acid (PFHpA) and perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA). MassDEP abbreviates this set of six PFAS as “PFAS6.”
In April 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the Final PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Regulation. This set MCLs for PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, PFNA, and two other specific PFAS. States are required establish regulations that are as strict or stricter than the federal standard. States must do so within two years of the federal MCL taking effect. State may request an extension of up to two years.
MassDEP will be proposing amendments to its PFAS regulations to be at least as stringent as the EPA MCLs. Public meetings will provide opportunity for feedback.
What are the testing requirements for PFAS?
PFAS are odorless and tasteless. Testing is the only way to know if PFAS are present in drinking water.
In Massachusetts, all public water systems are required to test for PFAS at every entry point to the distribution system. This is after water is treated and before it enters the pipes that bring water to customers.
MassDEP recommends that all private drinking water wells be tested for PFAS contamination. This is especially important if your well is within two miles of a known source of PFAS or other water supply with PFAS detections. Sources of PFAS may include airfields where certain firefighting foams were used, firefighting training areas, certain manufacturing facilities, and some waste disposal sites. More information for residents who use private wells is available from MassDEP.
Available data
MA EPHT does not currently provide data for PFAS. Drinking water testing data is available through the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy & Environmental Affairs (EEA) data portal.
Visit MassDEP’s story map for information on where PFAS has been detected in public drinking water. It also shows what suppliers are doing to address PFAS. State grants and loans were awarded to assist these suppliers.
Related links
Additional resources
Massachusetts
- MassDEP PFAS in drinking water: Informational on how MassDEP is addressing PFAS in drinking water
- EEA drinking water data portal: Drinking water testing data for PFAS and other contaminants
- MassDEP story map on addressing PFAS contamination: Interactive maps and dashboards that describe efforts to address PFAS contamination
- MassDEP PFAS in private well drinking water supplies: Frequently asked questions about the possibility of PFAS in well water
- MassDEP guide to water quality testing for private wells: Recommended water quality testing for private wells
- MassDEP home water treatment devices: Information on point of entry (POE) and point of use (POU) drinking water treatment devices
National
- Final PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Regulation: Federal regulations on PFAS
- Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) PFAS and your health: Information on how PFAS impacts your health
- ATSDR PFAS information for clinicians: Information for health care providers on PFAS properties, exposure, health effects, clinical evaluation, and management