RESEARCH CONDUCTED BY the Environmental Working Group (EWG) detected PFAS contaminants in 74 water systems around California, which serve 7.5 million residents. Forty percent of the water systems tested positive for at least 70 ppt concentrations of PFOA and PFOS, both common PFAS. Additionally, it was reported that some of the water systems contained six other types of PFAS chemicals.
PFAS, or per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, are tightly bonded chemical compounds that are used for merchandise with insulation, stain- and heat-resistant qualities. These products are commonly found in household goods and fixtures, food packaging, firefighting foams, paint, turnout gears, and equipment used in the military. The man-made substances offer convenience and efficiency in the community’s day-to-day lives. However, the Environmental Protection Agency has found that PFAS is related to serious health issues and environmental pollution.
Stan Gottfredson is President and CEO at Atraxia Law. (Atraxia Law/YouTube)
The health risks of PFAS range from birth complications to shifts in liver enzymes, increased cholesterol levels, decreased response to vaccines, and cancer (e.g., kidney and testicular). These illnesses are expected to present depending on the duration, frequency of the exposure, and initial health condition of the individual.
Due to its resistant nature, PFAS does not decompose easily on its own. It has earned the name of “forever chemical” because it tended to linger in the soil, air, and water supply systems for years. As such, the EPA has issued and enforced a standard for drinking water systems as a way to regulate and detect six types of PFAS by monitoring Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs). According to the EWG’s Tap Water Database, 14 contaminants exceeded the health guidelines in the City of Ukiah’s water supply. Based on the figures, it serves approximately 16,607 people in California. As Ukiah’s source is from surface water, it is much more susceptible to PFAS transfers as the chemical can be carried by rainwater and seep through the soil.
What should be done
Currently, there is no federal ban on PFAS. The contrast between the confirmed 8,865 water-contaminated sites in 50 states and the regulations set by officials is not balanced. In a law signed initially in California, the State Water Resources Control Board was allowed to monitor the testing of water providers’ supplies and inform the community in case levels of PFAS were found. It tested 3,034 wells around the state but did not explicitly include a mandatory clean-up operation if any contaminants were present. The said action was informative but not executed with the public’s safety in mind from PFAS-contaminated water.
The Water Systems Liability Protection Act of 2023 is legislation initially introduced in Utah to protect water supply companies from the legal repercussions caused by PFAS contamination, provided that they follow and comply with the established regulations. While this will help ratepayers of rural communities in dealing with the inadvertent consequences brought by PFAS, the brunt of the issue still falls on the shoulders of the general public.
Without seeking and imposing accountability on the manufacturers who purposely release PFAS, soon enough, no matter the strict protocol set by government organizations, contamination cases will worsen in the United States. From water supply systems to wildlife and the environment, this crisis needs to be approached with careful countermeasures, health, and financial support to aid casualties and further developments in filtering PFAS out of drinking water.
About the Author
Stan Gottfredson is the President and Chief Executive Officer at Atraxia Law, based in San Diego, California. The firm is focused on legally representing and guiding victims of toxic exposure.