What are PFAS?
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a family of man-made chemicals used since the 1950s to make materials resistant to water, grease, and stains. PFAS are widely used in common consumer products, such as paper food packaging, non-stick cookware, water-resistant outdoor clothing, stain-resistant carpets, and more. PFAS are also used in some firefighting foams and some industrial processes.
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) have been the most extensively produced and studied of these chemicals.
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, or
- Swim in PFAS-contaminated surface water.
Can PFAS affect my health?
Researchers have evaluated the potential for PFAS to cause adverse health effects in both humans and laboratory animals. Although there are some gaps in the current scientific knowledge, environmental health scientists believe that exposure to PFAS may affect human health. Effects from exposure to PFAS depend on how much PFAS a person is exposed to and how often and for how long they are exposed. Possible harm from exposure also depends on personal factors such as age, sex, diet, lifestyle, and current health status.
In animal studies, exposure to high levels of PFAS have been associated with effects on the liver, kidneys, immune system, thyroid, and developing fetus.
The most consistent finding in studies of humans exposed to elevated levels of PFAS is increased cholesterol levels. Additional effects in humans include:
- Increased risk of high blood pressure or pre-eclampsia during pregnancy,
- Decreased infant birth weights,
- Decreased antibody response to vaccines in children, and
- Increased liver enzymes.
Scientists are still learning about the health effects of 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) for community and non-transient non-community water systems of 20 nanograms per liter (ng/L) or parts per trillion (ppt) for the sum of the following six specific PFAS: 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, which set MCLs for PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, PFNA, and two other specific PFAS. States are required establish regulations that are no less stringent than the federal standard within two years of promulgation of the federal MCL, with possible 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 and will be holding public meetings to receive 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 suppliers are required to test for PFAS at every entry point to the distribution system (in other words, after treatment and before entering the pipes that bring water to customers). MA EPHT does not currently provide testing data for PFAS. Drinking water testing data is available through the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy & Environmental Affairs data portal.
Visit MassDEP’s story map for information on where PFAS has been detected in public drinking water sources, what suppliers are doing to address PFAS, and state grants and loans awarded to assist these suppliers.
If you have a private well, your drinking water may be at risk if it is near a known PFAS-contaminated site or source. See MassDEP’s PFAS in Private Well Drinking Water Supplies FAQ for information about whether you should test, how to test, and treatment options.
Additional resources
Massachusetts
- DPH beach closings
- DPH fish consumption advisories
- Per-and Polyflouroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Drinking Water
- Per-and Polyflouroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Tap Water
- PFAS in private well drinking water supplies FAQ
- Final PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Regulation
- Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy & Environmental Affairs data portal
- MassDEP addressing PFAS contamination story map