While it may seem like a new buzz word PFAS is a topic you’ll likely encounter more and more frequently in years to come. Recently brought to global attention, the impact of PFAS on both your health and drinking water is becoming increasingly evident. This post aims to delve into the prevalence of PFAS in UK drinking water, explore the associated health risks, and discuss effective methods for removing these harmful substances from your water.

What Is PFAS?

PFAS short for ‘Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl substances’ refers to a broader family of 5,000+ chemicals and substances – also known as ‘forever chemicals’ due to their inability to degrade naturally in the environment.

This inability to degrade is a considerable reason for concern, as levels continue to rise with the use and manufacturing of popular products which contain PFAS (such as non-stick pans and expanding foam). Their prominence within automotive, construction and manufacturing industries means they often find a way into water courses by leaching into soil and travelling through the air, before ultimately ending up in your drinking water.

Should You Be Concerned About PFAS?

Should you be concerned about PFAS in your drinking water? Good question. Although the levels of PFAS remain relatively low according to the DWI’s acceptable limits, it is important to note that many organisations and health officials such as the Royal Society Of Chemistry have called for these ‘acceptable limits‘ to be much lower with a proposed limit of 10ng/l per element.

The current limits are described as ‘not fit for purpose‘ as they do not consider the number of individual chemicals, with the current limit applying only to overall chemical-content instead. This initiative to lower the acceptable limits comes as new studies find links to PFAS and a number of diseases or conditions such as infertility, birth defects and cancer.

Based on data from Illinois Department Of Public Health we’ve listed some of the main health concerns surrounding PFAS in drinking water below:

• Increased levels of cholesterol and changes in liver enzymes
• Hormone imbalance and links to thyroid disease
• Decreased fertility and a reduction in birth weights
• High blood pressure and increased risk of cancer
• Reduced vaccine response in children

Common Myths About PFAS:

• PFAS can be removed by boiling water – Unfortunately this is not correct as heat will not break down the PFAS molecules. Instead by boiling water contaminated with PFAS you will concentrate the chemicals and likely make them even more harmful if consumed.
  
  
• Filtering water doesn’t remove PFAS – Whilst this statement has some partial truths, it ultimately depends on the method of filtration used. We’ll go into more detail on this topic and how you can remove PFAS from your drinking water a little later on, but there are filtration methods known to reduce PFAS levels in drinking water.
  
  
• Bottled water doesn’t contain PFAS – Whilst a popular option for many, PFAS has been detected in 39 out of 100 bottled water brands tested in a study. This indicates that bottled water isn’t necessarily a reliable solution for preventing PFAS exposure in drinking water.

Where Is PFAS Most Prevalent?

The levels of PFAS in UK drinking water are only just being established, with considerable variation in known levels depending on local industry and geography. These variations include proximity to water sources and the water source variability (eg; where the water comes from). A recent study from the Guardian showed that “potentially toxic PFAS chemicals were detected in sources at 17 of England’s 18 water firms, with 11,853 samples testing positive“.

You may be surprised to hear that levels of PFAS appear much higher in southern UK counties, which is likely due to population density and the prominence of industrial activity. The map below shows the concentration levels of PFAS found in water samples taken across the UK.

Royal Society Of Chemistry Interactive PFAS Map

Causes Of High PFAS Levels

Here are some examples of industries known to use chemicals that release PFAS. Unfortunately in most of these industries, technological advancements are required before they can be removed from the manufacturing process. Certain initiatives are starting to be launched to promote advancements in these areas, with large corporations being fined or charged based on their output of PFAS into the natural environment.

• Aerospace and Automotive
• Industrial Facilities
• Wastewater Treatment
• Landfill Sites
• Incinerators

How To Remove PFAS In Drinking Water?

There are several proactive steps that you can take to avoid consuming PFAS in your drinking water, with one practical example being the use of a drinking water filter. The two main filtration technologies used to remove PFAS include activated carbon and reverse osmosis. Let’s find out which of these options is more effective, and ultimately the better choice for removing PFAS from your drinking water.

Removing PFAS Using Reverse Osmosis
Reverse osmosis is increasing in popularity as a method of filtering drinking water. It uses advanced membrane technology to separate dissolved contaminants and minerals leaving you with essentially ‘pure’ drinking water. Data from the US Environment Protection Agency and the American Chemical Society show that reverse osmosis is the most effective method of removing a broad spectrum of different types of PFAS from drinking water. However, due to the complex nature of this technology, it can only be relied upon on a small scale like at the point of use (such as on the feed to a single tap). Certifications to look out for when choosing a suitable reverse osmosis system include NSF/ANSI 53 or NSF/ANSI 58 alongside specific testing data for PFAS and contaminant removal levels.

Removing PFAS Using Activated Carbon
The use of activated carbon to adsorb and remove PFAS has been studied closely over recent years, with this technology being the go-to method for home filtration thanks to low running costs, ease of installation and low maintenance. Data shows that activated carbon filters can remove between 67-100% of PFAS levels in drinking water. Activated carbon is already one of the most popular technologies for drinking water filtration, thanks to its ability to remove a broad range of contaminants including chlorine, chlorine byproducts like THM’s and other organic chemicals such as those found in herbicides and pesticides. Certifications to look out for when choosing a suitable carbon filter include NSF/ANSI 53 or NSF/ANSI 58 alongside specific testing data for PFAS removal levels. Additionally, check that the filter is manufactured using ‘coconut carbon’ rather than ‘bituminous’ to ensure it is safe for use with drinking water.

Which Is Better For PFAS Removal?
Reverse osmosis and carbon filtration work in very different ways, with reverse osmosis removing all dissolved minerals from your water including PFAS. Unfortunately this also includes healthier minerals such as calcium and magnesium, which are nutritionally beneficial. Whilst this may seem like the best option, there are some limitations to reverse osmosis that you should be aware of. These include high running costs, increased installation complexity, low flow rates and increased maintenance levels. Compared to carbon filtration which often comes in cartridge form, and can easily be changed at a low cost at set intervals (such as 3 months, 6 months or 12 months). Reverse osmosis will also require waste water to flow to a drain, which means contaminants such as PFAS will not be removed from the water course.

Point of use carbon filtration is an easy to install and low-cost option for improving the quality, taste and odour of your drinking water. Dual stage or ‘hybrid’ carbon filters provide the best results when it comes to PFAS removal, often utilising more than one form of carbon media (for example both granular carbon and carbon block) to increase surface area.

Recommended PFAS Filtration Solutions