Reducing Exposure to PFAS at Home

PFAS, short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are an umbrella term for thousands of different manmade chemicals that are widely used in everyday products like food packaging, non-stick pans, water, stain-resistant fabrics, and cosmetics. After decades of widespread use, PFAS have emerged as a concern both locally and globally for their accumulation in the environment, drinking water, food systems, and people. Although useful for their water, oil, and temperature resistance, exposure to these chemicals has been connected to increased risk for some forms of cancer and other negative health effects (Fenton et al, 2020). PFAS enter the environment through industrial emissions, contaminated biosolid applications, and wastewater effluent. Additionally, military bases, firefighting training facilities, and landfills are common sources of PFAS contamination. Once these chemicals enter the environment, they don't break down easily. Please read  Understanding PFAS: what they are, their impact, and what we can do for more information about PFAS pollution. Although PFAS contamination is a problem worldwide, there are efforts that can be made to reduce potential PFAS exposure for ourselves, our families, and our broader communities. 

PFAS in Drinking Water

One primary concern for PFAS exposure is drinking water. Researchers have recently estimated that "at least one PFAS could be detected in about 45% of US drinking-water samples" (Smalling et al. 2023). In 2024, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) announced safety thresholds for a few of the PFAS most often detected in drinking water. Although these chemicals have also been found in bottled water, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not established any standards regarding acceptable PFAS levels in these products (Chow et al, 2021). To determine if your drinking water may be exceeding safety thresholds and to find solutions for your home or business, there are a few simple steps you can take. If you are on a public water source, your water utility provider should be able to provide more information on potential PFAS in your drinking water. If you draw water from a private well or spring and live near any areas of concern for PFAS contamination, like landfills, airports, or military bases, consider testing your water through local accredited labs. For help interpreting test results from your public drinking water supplier or private well tests, Penn State Extension has created additional resources at the Drinking Water Interpretation Tool. If your drinking water has elevated PFAS concentrations, there are several tested ways to reduce PFAS contamination in your water at different price points listed in the Guide to addressing PFAS in drinking water. 

PFAS in Food Products 

Another potential PFAS exposure route is diet. PFAS can find their way into food products through the environment or packaging materials. Farms can be contaminated with PFAS through the pathways described earlier, but land application of industrially impacted biosolids or irrigation with contaminated water is considered an important pathway (Brusseau et al. 2020, Mroczko et al. 2022). 

Crops grown on PFAS-contaminated soils or irrigated with PFAS-contaminated water can absorb various PFAS. Animals can be exposed to PFAS through contaminated feed or water. Farms adjacent to known sources of PFAS contamination may be at elevated risk of contamination. Farmers or landowners interested in information about PFAS concentrations in biosolids applied to their property may be able to obtain information through their biosolid distributor. Farmers interested in testing their water supply or soil can use Pennsylvania DEP-certified laboratories. These laboratories may also test soil and farm produce. When agricultural products are being processed, they can come in contact with PFAS-coated surfaces. Additionally, some of the oil- and water-resistant packaging used to store produce may contain PFAS. Some fast-food wrappers and containers, pet food bags, and microwave popcorn bags may use PFAS. In February 2024, the United States Food and Drug Administration prohibited the sale of PFAS-treated paper food packaging in US markets, but there remain several current applications in food processing and packaging. 

Once these chemicals are released into water, they can also accumulate in aquatic organisms such as fish. Therefore, seafood and freshwater fish caught in local contaminated waters can be a notable human exposure pathway (Barbo et al. 2022). Many commercial seafood products are tested for these chemicals; however, locally harvested fish, especially fish harvested from urban waterways, may have high levels of PFAS contamination. To find up-to-date fish consumption advisories in the state of Pennsylvania, visit the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection website, or call for information at 717-787-9637. Frequent consumption of fish from areas of high contamination should be avoided.

PFAS in Other Products 

An additional route of exposure to PFAS is through the materials, products, and dust people encounter on a daily basis. In one recent study, some of the highest levels of PFAS in household products were found in water- and stain-proofing products for fabrics and cleaning products (Dewapriya et al, 2023). To find suggestions for cleaning products with no intentionally added PFAS, the US EPA maintains a list. Because of the many different chemicals and applications of PFAS, it is difficult to determine the impact of exposure to these chemicals in our daily lives. If you are looking to avoid PFAS in the products you buy, there are a few common materials to look out for. One common PFAS-containing material is Teflon or PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene), a fluorinated plastic used in non-stick cooking equipment, cosmetics, waterproof outdoor gear, plumber's tape, and dental floss. Products containing durable water repellents (DWRs) or anti-stain treatments like carpeting, footwear, and upholstery should be scrutinized for fluorinated chemicals. See Table 1 for additional product categories to keep in mind when looking for added PFAS. 

Things You Can Do

• Investigate PFAS levels in your water if you are near potential contamination sources. 
• If PFAS levels in drinking water exceed state and federal safety thresholds, consider installing an activated charcoal, reverse osmosis, or ion exchange resin filter for drinking water in your home or business to reduce PFAS. Filtration products should be National Science Foundation (NSF) or American National Standards Institute (ANSI) certified to reduce PFAS.  
• When preparing food, consider replacing non-stick cookware with stainless steel or cast iron.  
• Instead of storing food in coated paper and plastic packaging, consider using glass or metal containers for leftovers.  
• Find and consider any local fish consumption advisories. 
• Read cosmetic labels and avoid products that contain PFTE or fluorinated chemicals.  
• Whenever possible, consider avoiding PFAS-coated water and stain-resistant carpeting and furniture  
• Look for rain gear and outdoor gear with no intentionally added PFAS, fluorocarbons, or PFCs. 

By making informed choices about the products you choose to purchase and use, you can reduce exposure to PFAS in your daily life and help the people you care about stay healthy (see Figure 1).

Citations 

Barbo, N., Stoiber, T., Naidenko, O. V., & Andrews, D. Q. (2023). Locally caught freshwater fish across the United States are likely a significant source of exposure to PFOS and other perfluorinated compounds. Environmental Research, 220, 115165. doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2022.115165 

Brusseau, M. L., Anderson, R. H., & Guo, B. (2020). PFAS concentrations in soils: Background levels versus contaminated sites. Science of the Total Environment, 740, 140017. doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140017 

Chow, S. J., Ojeda, N., Jacangelo, J. G., & Schwab, K. J. (2021). Detection of ultrashort-chain and other per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in U.S. bottled water. Water Research, 201, 117292. doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2021.117292 

Dewapriya, P., Chadwick, L., Gorji, S. G., Schulze, B., Valsecchi, S., Samanipour, S., Thomas, K. V., & Kaserzon, S. L. (2023). Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in consumer products: Current knowledge and research gaps. Journal of Hazardous Materials Letters, 4, 100086. doi.org/10.1016/j.hazl.2023.100086 

Gaines, L. G. T. (2023). Historical and current usage of per‐ and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS): A literature review. American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 66(5), 353–378. doi.org/10.1002/ajim.23362 

Mroczko, O., Preisendanz, H. E., Wilson, C., Mashtare, M. L., Elliott, H. A., Veith, T. L., Soder, K. J., & Watson, J. E. (2022). Spatiotemporal patterns of PFAS in water and crop tissue at a beneficial wastewater reuse site in central Pennsylvania. Journal of Environmental Quality, 51(6), 1282–1297. doi.org/10.1002/jeq2.20408 

Smalling, K. L., Romanok, K. M., Bradley, P. M., Morriss, M. C., Gray, J. L., Kanagy, L. K., Gordon, S. E., Williams, B. M., Breitmeyer, S. E., Jones, D. K., DeCicco, L. A., Eagles-Smith, C. A., & Wagner, T. (2023). Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in United States tapwater: Comparison of underserved private-well and public-supply exposures and associated health implications. Environment International, 178, 108033. doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2023.108033 

Suzanne E. Fenton, Alan Ducatman, Alan Boobis, Jamie C. DeWitt, Christopher Lau, Carla Ng, James S. Smith, Stephen M. Roberts. (2021) Per‐ and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance Toxicity and Human Health Review: Current State of Knowledge and Strategies for Informing Future Research, Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Volume 40, Issue 3, 1 March 2021, Pages 606–630, doi.org/10.1002/etc.4890