Detection of Poly- and Perfluoroalkyl Substances (PFASs) in U.S. Drinking Water Linked to Industrial Sites, Military Fire Training Areas, and Wastewater Treatment Plants

Abstract

Drinking water contamination with poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) poses risks to the developmental, immune, metabolic, and endocrine health of consumers. We present a spatial analysis of 2013–2015 national drinking water PFAS concentrations from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (US EPA) third Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR3) program. The number of industrial sites that manufacture or use these compounds, the number of military fire training areas, and the number of wastewater treatment plants are all significant predictors of PFAS detection frequencies and concentrations in public water supplies. Among samples with detectable PFAS levels, each additional military site within a watershed’s eight-digit hydrologic unit is associated with a 20% increase in PFHxS, a 10% increase in both PFHpA and PFOA, and a 35% increase in PFOS. The number of civilian airports with personnel trained in the use of aqueous film-forming foams is significantly associated with the detection of PFASs above the minimal reporting level. We find drinking water supplies for 6 million U.S. residents exceed US EPA’s lifetime health advisory (70 ng/L) for PFOS and PFOA. Lower analytical reporting limits and additional sampling of smaller utilities serving <10000 individuals and private wells would greatly assist in further identifying PFAS contamination sources.

Serum perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) and associations with behavioral attributes

“…This information may be helpful in informing larger studies about information that should be collected to identify determinants of exposure. The higher concentrations of the PFHxS in this population compared to NHANES suggest that exposure could be increasing, and may be related to levels now being detected in water sources throughout the country (Hu et al, 2016; Barzen-Hanson et al, 2017). Further studies should investigate the relationships between PFAS levels in drinking water and serum levels, taking into account personal behaviors that may determine exposure (e.g.…”

“…Elevated PFHxS serum levels have been associated with exposure to aqueous film forming foam (AFFF)-impacted drinking water. A recent study suggested that AFFF use may be associated with elevated levels of PFAAs in drinking water (Hu et al, 2016). Given the longer half-life of PFHxS in serum, this may suggest past exposure to PFHxS in drinking water from sources that were recently contaminated.…”

“…Humans are exposed to these compounds through several pathways, both directly and indirectly, with ingestion of contaminated food hypothesized to be a primary pathway (Stahl et al, 2011). Drinking water is now also considered a significant source of exposure as recent studies have identified (Stahl et al, 2011; Hu et al, 2016), and the Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) has established new health advisories for drinking water (USEPA, 2016). Despite measurements of PFASs in food and water, it is not clear if direct exposure via ingestion of compounds in foodstuffs, indirect exposure by precursors in food paper packaging, or other pathways including the inhalation of contaminated air or ingestion of contaminated dust are driving levels of PFASs in human blood (Haug et al, 2011).…”

Behavioral, morphometric, and gene expression effects in adult zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryonically exposed to PFOA, PFOS, and PFNA

“…PFASs are of particular concern because they are persistent in the environment (Houde et al, 2011), have been detected in animal tissue samples world-wide (Lindstrom et al, 2011), and have been detected in both ground and surface waters (Hu et al, 2016; Post et al, 2013). PFNA in particular, since a voluntary ban of long chain PFASs in 2000, has seen increased concentrations in human serum in U.S populations (Kato et al, 2011).…”

Scalable manufacturing of biomimetic moldable hydrogels for industrial applications

“…Another class of highly effective retardants are aqueous film-forming foams, which comprise perfluorinated surfactants, the primary fire extinguishing chemical driving their performance (45). Wastewater from the use of these foams and its treatment have been the focus of rigorous investigative studies because fluorinated surfactants have been found to contaminate groundwater around the site of application (46) and thus have emerged as priority environmental contaminants on account of concerns regarding their environmental persistence, potential for bioaccumulation, and toxicity (46)(47)(48)(49)(50). The use of these foams is therefore highly restricted.…”