Per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS)

PFAS is the abbreviation for per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances, a group of chemicals that have been produced since the 1940s and are used in a wide range of products.

In this Guidebook we provide information about:

• What PFAS are and where they occur.
• the health consequences of PFAS.
• how PFAS get into our drinking water or food.
• How to filter PFC and PTFE.

What are PFAS and where do they occur?

PFAS (per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances) are a group of chemicals that are widely used in many products due to their versatile applications. PFAS are considered water, grease and stain repellent due to their special chemical properties and are therefore found in many consumer products such as clothing, carpets, upholstery, paper, packaging and Teflon-coated pans. PFAS are also used in industry and in firefighting foam.PFAS are persistent in the environment and can accumulate over time.

They can also enter drinking water and food if they come into contact with contaminated soil, water or air. PFAS have been detected worldwide in various environmental media such as soil, water, air and in many animal and plant species. Due to their widespread use and chemical stability, PFAS are now found in many parts of the world.

This has inevitably led to public health concerns. To minimize the risk to human health, many countries and regions are in the process of restricting or banning the use of PFAS in various products.

How dangerous are PFAS?

PFAS (per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances) can cause various health problems ^[10], including

• Increase in the cholesterol level
• Impairment of the immune system
• Thyroid problems
• Miscarriages
• Impairment of the growth and development of infants and children
• Cancer (especially kidney and testicular cancer)

However, the exact health effects of PFAS are not yet fully understood, and research and investigations are ongoing to assess and minimize the risk to human health. It is important to note that not all PFAS are equally harmful and that it depends on which specific PFAS compounds are present and in what quantity.

Plastics in drinking water: Can water filters protect against perfluorinated chemicals?

Certain types of water filters can help to reduce perfluorinated chemicals (PFAS) from water. Activated carbon filters, reverse osmosis filters and ion exchange filters are commonly used for this purpose.

Activated carbon filters are used in most cases to adsorb PFAS from water. However, the effectiveness depends on various factors, such as the type of PFAS, their concentration in the water and the contact time between the water and the filter.

It is important to note, however, that not all water filters are equally effective at removing PFAS and that other factors, such as the quality of the source water, can affect filter performance.

To our conclusion >

PFAS: Ubiquitous and a dangerous environmental toxin

The plastics PFC and PTFE belong to the so-called PFAS (per- and polyfluorinated substances). Per- and polyfluorinated alkyl compounds are organic compounds that do not occur in nature and are produced industrially.

PFAS are a burden on national budgets due to high health costs, and some substances are suspected of being carcinogenic. PFCs are used intensively in the textile industry or, for example, as fire-fighting foam. Perfluorooctanoic acid, PFOA, is used in the production of Teflon and can cause serious damage to health.

The Teflon manufacturer DuPont was sentenced to pay high damages in the USA due to the previous use of PFOA.

The longevity of these plastics is a major problem. They accumulate in humans, animals and the environment. Due to the hazardous nature of the substance PFOA, it may no longer be produced from July 2020 as a result of a procedure by the EU Commission. 

PFC chemicals in drinking water: Impregnated clothing, fire extinguisher foam or coated pans use PFC compounds that are harmful to the human organism.

PFOA contamination: The Teflon scandal

Teflon was produced without hesitation for a long time. Only a spectacular trial in West Virginia, in which it was revealed that the acid PFOA used in production had harmed or killed a number of people and animals, prompted a rethink. This environmental scandal, also known as the "American Chernobyl", was even made into the Hollywood movie "Dark Waters" in 2019. In it, the lawyer Robert Bilott, played by Mark Ruffalo, represents over 3,500 plaintiffs and uncovers abuses in the state environmental control system.

Bilott's real-life battle became known in 2016 through an article in the New York Times Magazine. The film will be released in Germany under the title "Poisoned Truth" on April 16, 2020. Due to decades of use, PFOA can be found practically everywhere in the world. 

Picture: Filmstarts.de

PFOA scandals in Germany: Contamination of drinking water

There have also been PFOA scandals in Germany that have resulted in drinking water contamination. Despite strict regulations, there is no guarantee that drinking water in Germany is PFOA-free. There is also Teflon in water. The PFOA scandal in Altötting is well known¹. PFOA was released into the environment and drinking water by a chemical park near Gendorf until 2008. As recently as 2018, an environmental report found that the limit values of the Drinking Water Commission's guideline values for drinking water had been exceeded over the long term² In the area around Altötting, an activated carbon filter was installed in the wells in the municipality of Haiming as early as 2009, as a result of which the PFOA value fell to zero³.

The PFC scandal in Rastatt, Baden Württemberg, is also worrying. A field contaminated with compost led to drinking water contamination in 2012. As a result, the German government also became aware of this environmental problem and invited tenders for research projects. The guide values for PFCs in drinking water were tightened, although these are not legal limits. In the waterworks, for example, activated carbon filters were used at the energy plants in Rastatt. The water in Mittelbaden is now said to be uncontaminated⁴. According to another report in the Mittelbadische Zeitung, however, it is doubtful whether the danger has really been averted, as the region is home to one of the largest "aquifers in Europe". Due to the increasing contamination, new wells have had to be drilled and new filter systems installed⁵.

Despite increased political attention, it cannot be ruled out that perfluorinated substances will find their way into drinking water in the future. The reason for this is the ubiquitous distribution of these substances. These surfactants are also easily soluble in water. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has set a lifetime intake limit of 1.5 µg/kg body weight for PFOA. This value was exceeded in the case in Baden Württemberg⁶.

The Federal Environment Agency also refers to cases in the Hochsauerland district. A study by the Ruhr University Bochum, for example, revealed an increased concentration of PFCs in the blood of the inhabitants of Arnsberg. In a publication, the Federal Environment Agency writes: "This study proves that drinking water is a source for the uptake of perfluorinated chemicals and that they accumulate in the human organism."  

PFOA and PFOS also discovered in Lake Constance

Studies have shown that PFAS are present in Lake Constance and other bodies of water in Europe and can pose a risk to human and animal health. Measures have been taken to minimize the spread of PFAS and protect drinking water[9].

Guide values for exposure to PFCs

As early as 2006, the Federal Environment Agency referred in detail to limit values and exceedances of the limit values for perfluorinated surfactants (PFT) and the chemical PFOA in a statement by the Drinking Water Commission. With regard to PFT, a " drinking water guideline value of 0.3 µg/L PFC that can be tolerated for life is set."

However, the limit value must be considered in a differentiated manner, as a distinction must also be made between different groups of people. The reference values for PFOA of the Commission Human Biomonitoring of the Federal Environment Agency are available for this purpose. As there are still many unanswered questions regarding the hazards of these chemicals for humans, the Federal Environment Agency recommends that "PFCs should continue to be closely monitored and tracked."⁷ Particular attention will certainly be paid to the carcinogenic effect of these substances, which has been clearly proven by the DuPont scandal in the USA. One of Robert Bilott's clients was seriously ill with kidney cancer. 

How can you determine whether drinking water is contaminated with PFAS?

There are various methods to determine whether drinking water is contaminated with PFAS. Here are some common methods:

• Water analysis: Water samples can be tested for PFAS to determine if the water is contaminated. The analysis should be carried out by an approved laboratory.
• Exchange of information with authorities: In some regions, local or national authorities can provide information on the PFAS content of drinking water or food.

It is important to note that it can be difficult to determine the PFAS content of drinking water and food yourself. A professional analysis by an approved laboratory is the most reliable method to determine whether drinking water and food are contaminated with PFAS.

What alternatives are there to products containing PFAS?

There are various alternatives to products containing PFAS. Some of them are:

• Textiles: Instead of clothing and textiles treated with PFAS, natural materials such as cotton, wool or linen can be used. There is also special clothing that has been treated without PFAS.
• Non-stick coatings: Instead of non-stick pans with a Teflon coating, ceramic, enamel or stainless steel coatings can be used.
• Impregnating agents: Instead of impregnating agents containing PFAS, silicone or wax-based agents can be used.
• Fire extinguishers: For use in private households, fireproof blankets or fire extinguishers based on water or foam can be used as an alternative to those containing PFAS.
• Cosmetics: Consumers can choose cosmetic products that do not contain PFAS. Attention should be paid to lists of ingredients.

It is important to note that for some products it may be difficult to find PFAS-free alternatives. In these cases, careful consideration of the risks and benefits may be required.

How can I protect myself from PFCs and PTFE in water?

A water filter with activated carbon is required to purify drinking water from chemical residues such as PFC and PTFE. The water must be filtered. Activated carbon filters are also used in groundwater purification. The pollutants are absorbed by the surface of the activated carbon. So-called Van der Waals forces ensure that the substances to be removed accumulate at the "interface between the solid and fluid phases".

This method has proven to be the most effective method in science for removing such organic compounds to below the detection limit. Alternatively, ion exchange, flocculation or membrane processes are used as further methods⁸

The absorption or physisorption method is also used in household water filters. Once the carbon is saturated, the activated carbon filters must be replaced regularly.

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