Introduction
Here we provide answers to questions about the use of beaches when Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been detected in the water and the Department of Public Health (DPH) has determined that the waterbody is safe for swimming.
What are PFAS?
PFAS are a group of chemicals used since the 1950s to manufacture stain-resistant, water-resistant, and non-stick products. PFAS are widely used in common consumer products such as food packaging, outdoor clothing, coatings, carpets, leather goods, and other products. They have also been used in firefighting foam, as well is in other industrial processes. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) have been the most extensively produced and studied of these chemicals.
How are people exposed to PFAS?
While most people are exposed through consumption of food and use of consumer products, drinking water can also be a source in communities where these chemicals have contaminated the water supplies. Such contamination is typically localized and associated with a specific facility (e.g., an industrial facility where these chemicals were produced or used to manufacture other products or where firefighting foam was used). Eating fish from surface waterbodies that are contaminated with PFAS can also be a source of exposure.
Please visit our information pages about PFAS in Drinking Water and PFAS in Recreationally Caught Fish to learn more about exposure to PFAS through these pathways.
How can PFAS affect my health?
Although there are gaps in the current scientific literature, there is considerable evidence that PFAS may affect human health. Some of the research about health effects of PFAS is based on animal studies, and scientists are still unsure of the difference between how animals and humans respond to PFAS. In humans, PFAS exposure has been associated with increased levels of cholesterol and liver enzymes, and decreased response to vaccines in children. During pregnancy, PFAS may cause small changes in birthweight, increased maternal blood pressure, and pre-eclampsia.
The US Environmental Protection Agency has concluded that PFOA and PFOS are likely to be carcinogenic in humans. Studies in humans suggest that PFOA may increase the risk of kidney and testicular cancer, and that PFOS may increase the risk of liver cancer.
It’s important to keep in mind that the likelihood of experiencing health effects associated with PFAS increases with the amount of PFAS that a person has been exposed to. It’s also important to keep in mind that health effects associated with PFAS are not specific to just PFAS – they can also be caused by many other factors. As a result, it is not possible to link a person’s exposure to PFAS with any former, current, or future health effects. If you have specific health concerns, you should consult with your medical provider.
Can I swim in water where PFAS are greater than a safe level in drinking water?
Potential exposure to PFAS while swimming would be less than exposure from drinking water or eating fish containing PFAS. This is because PFAS are not readily absorbed through the skin and the amount of water that may be accidentally swallowed while swimming would be less than the amount of water that people typically drink.
Although typical contact with the water while swimming should not be a health concern, DPH recommends the following precautions:
- Avoid, as much as possible, accidentally swallowing water.
- If you have young children, monitor them to limit the amount of pond or lake water they swallow.
- Limit time in the water if your skin has cuts, abrasions, or open wounds.
- Avoid contact with foam on the water, which may contain much higher levels of PFAS than the water.
- Follow guidance on signs, if present, which may recommend limiting contact with the water.
What can I do to limit my exposure to PFAS?
If PFAS contamination has been identified in drinking water in your community, there are several ways to reduce exposure such as drinking and cooking with bottled water that complies with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) drinking water standard for PFAS; or installing a point of use or point of entry treatment device. Note that bottled water sold in Massachusetts is required to comply with the MassDEP drinking water standard. If you purchase bottled water outside of Massachusetts, you can contact the bottled water provider for information about PFAS levels.
To limit your exposure to PFAS identified in fish, DPH recommends following fish consumption advice for the specific waterbody where PFAS has been identified. Although typical contact with the water while fishing is not a health concern, you should also limit time in the water if your skin has cuts, abrasions, or open wounds.
Who can I contact if I have more questions about this issue in Massachusetts?
Please contact the Environmental Toxicology Program at the Massachusetts Department of Public Health at 617-624-5757.