Protecting families from contaminated food and water
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Protecting families from contaminated food and water
Posted in Our Blog on September 17, 2025
PFAS water filtration has multiple benefits, says an Environmental Working Group (EWG) study. Not only does it remove the intended “forever chemicals,” it reduces other contaminants as well. Making this advanced filtration system a no-brainer for community water systems.
But like most things. Cost could be a deciding factor.
Many communities do not employ these filtration technologies. Putting their residents at increased risk.
PFAS water filtration systems are designed to remove PFAS from water. But what exactly are PFAS? Where do they come from? Why are they bad?
PFAS, scientifically known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, have been around for about 80 years. They have been used in industrial and consumer products since the 1940s.
While there are thousands of different chemicals in this category, two of the most common are PFOA (Perfluorooctanoic Acid) and PFOS (Perfluorooctane Sulfonate). These two bad boys have been recently replaced in the United States with other, less offending and presumably less dangerous options. But forever chemicals are named so, because they persist for a really long time. Practically forever!
PFAS are found in many commonly used products.
Manufacturing and chemical production is the most obvious source of PFAS. Chrome plating, electronics manufacturing, as well as certain paper and textile manufacturing processes generate these forever chemicals. Both as a byproduct and on the product itself, where it will slowly slough off PFAS as the product breaks down.
Food packaging is another common source of PFAS. Fast food wrappers, grease-resistant paper, and even pizza boxes can be a source of PFAS contamination. Microwave popcorn bags and candy wrappers also contain these harmful substances.
Household products like cleaning products, non-stick cookware, certain paints, varnishes, and sealants are also big sources of forever chemicals. As are stain removers use on carpets, upholstery, and certain clothing.
Personal care products like dental floss, some cosmetics, and even shampoos.
Biosolids used in fertilizer made from wastewater treatment plants later used in agricultural lands can impact ground and surface water as well as make their way into the animals that they graze on (and into the meat we eat).
Fire extinguishing foam also contains PFAS. While it isn’t something you, hopefully, come into contact with regularly, its use in firefighting training facilities, chemical plants, military bases, and refineries introduce these forever chemicals into the environment.
These forever chemicals break down slowly over time and can build up in the environment, animals, and even people. Causing serious health concerns.
Even at low levels, PFAS are toxic. Most people are “infected.” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has detected PFAS in the blood of 99% of Americans. Including newborn babies.
So, what exactly do PFASs do to human health.
Unfortunately, a lot!
These are just the peer-reviewed, proven impacts.
Removing PFAS from our water supply needs to be a priority. But how does that work?
PFAS are very small. So small they can enter your cells and your bloodstream. So what kind of PFAS water filtration actually works.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), there are several different types of PFAS water filtration options. Charcoal, Reverse Osmosis (RO) Systems, and Ion Exchange Resins.
One of the most common, and surprisingly effective types of PFAS water filtration methods involves the humble charcoal filter. Something that has been used in homes for decades. On a water treatment scale, they are much much larger. But the essentially work the same.
These filters use granular activated carbon (GAC) to trap chemicals while the water passes through the system. Even PFAS.
RO systems are a little more expensive. This type of system forces water through extremely thin, specialized barriers that separates chemicals from the water. This method uses a bit of energy and requires specialized systems.
Resins used in this PFAS water filtration method act like powerful magnets. These resins are formed into tiny beads. As the water passes through them, they hold contaminated materials, allowing clean water exit the system.
In addition to removing harmful PFAS from the water supply, filtration efforts that remove PFAS also remove other contaminants. Making water even safer.
This type of filtration, according to the EWG studies, found reduced levels of other harmful contaminants when these systems are used.
Reduced contaminants include:
In fact, OFAS treatment (using 19 different PFAS water filtration systems) showed an average reduction of byproduct of water disinfection. Including reduced levels of trihalomethans by 42%. Haloacetic acid levels dropped 50%.
“PFAS treatment isn’t just about ‘forever chemicals,’” said Sydney Evans, EWG senior science analyst and lead author of the study. “It’s opening the door to improving water treatment across the board.”
This type of advanced water treatment can clean up a mixture of contaminants, providing cleaner drinking water across the country.
The amount of these contaminants in our tap water, allegedly process by water treatment facilities, is insane. In fact, shortly after EWG updated their tap water database, the Make Food Safe blog wrote a piece on the hundreds of toxic chemical in tap water across the U.S.. You can even enter your own zip code (if you dare) to see what is in YOUR drinking water.
Fortunately, some jurisdictions already use these types of filters.
In their study, EWG identified an alarming trend. They revealed systemic inequities between large water treatment jurisdictions and smaller ones.
Only about 7% of small water systems (servicing 500 or less people) used this type of advanced filtration. While not all larger water systems used PFAS water filtration technology, 28% did.
According to EWG, this means that “millions of Americans in rural and underresourced communities remain exposed to PFAS, hazardous disinfection byproducts, and heavy metals.
“This study exposes a dangerous blind spot in federal water policy,” said Melanie Benesh, EWG vice president of government affairs. “Communities wouldn’t just filter out PFAS, they’d be eliminating multiple toxic chemicals at the same time.”
If your water treatment jurisdiction is one of the majority that do not employe PFAS water filtration technology, fortunately, you can take this activity into your own hands.
According to the EPA, filters can range from as little as $20 to more than $1,000 (plus maintenance costs). The least expensive being your basic pitcher filters you can find at your local Walmart, Target, or Dollar General. Others can be installed on your faucets. Larger still are those set up for your entire home.
The EPA says that you should check for certification to ensure what you are buying will do what it says it will do.
There are five American National Standards Institute (ANSI)-accredited third-party certification bodies that are allowed to evaluate drinking water filters for PFAS reduction capabilities.
The packaging should include a certification “NSF/ANSI 53” or “NSF/ANSI 58” for PFAS reduction.
If you’d like to know more about food safety topics in the news, like “PFAS Water Filtration Not Only Removes Forever Chemicals, But Reduces Other Contaminants, Study Says,” check out the Make Food Safe Blog. We regularly update trending topics, foodborne infections in the news, recalls, and more! Stay tuned for quality information to help keep your family safe, while The Lange Law Firm, PLLC strives to Make Food Safe!
By: Heather Van Tassell (contributing writer, non-lawyer)