About PFAS Contamination
What are PFAS?
PFAS: A group of thousands of manmade chemicals
- Highly Persistent due to strong carbon-fluorine bonds
- Informally named "Forever Chemicals", due to their properties, they do not break down easily
Toxicology and human health impacts of PFAS according to ATSDR (CDC):
- Exposure and effects are poorly understood and likely underestimated
- Increased cholesterol levels
- Decreased vaccine response in children
- Changes in liver enzymes
- Small decreases in infant birth weights
- Increased risk of high blood pressure or pre-eclampsia in pregnant women
- Increased risk of kidney or testicular cancer
Where are PFAS?
- They are dispersed via air, soil and water
- How does PFAs get into the environment?
- Chemical Plants
- Landfills
- Wastewater
- Biosolids used as fertilizer in agriculture
- Other Point Sources: Airports, firefighting training sites, etc.
- Non-point Sources: spills, wet or dry deposition, commercial uses