Also known as 'forever chemicals', PFAS is the collective term for thousands of PFOA and PFOS man-made chemicals, which are persistent in the environment and can accumulate in the human body. PFAS are commonly used in non-stick cooking items, water-resistant clothing and firefighting foams, and have been bioaccumulating in the environment since the 1940s. Although limited studies have been conducted on their effects on humans, the World Health Organisation has recently classified them as carcinogenic to humans.
Some types of PFAS have been linked to cancer, liver damage, thyroid and insulin problems, negative changes to the immune system, birth defects, delayed development in children, and other health issues. The latest research (April 2024) is now implying that PFAS chemicals "raise mortality from cardiovascular disease (in particular, heart diseases and ischemic heart disease) and malignant neoplastic diseases, including kidney cancer and testicular cancer."
In April 2024, the US EPA announced new guideline levels for 4 PFAS chemicals. Comparison with the 2017 Australian Guidelines indicate that "safe levels" are 140 times higher than the new US guidelines (and 1,250 times lower than the Australian 2016 guidelines)
Dr. Nicholas Chartres, a senior research fellow at the University of Sydney, noted that the U.S. standards for PFAS are "many magnitudes lower than the current level that we have in Australia." While he acknowledged that water filters can help reduce PFAS levels, he also mentioned the potential health risks associated with using bottled water as an alternative.
Dr. Lloyd-Smith also noted that PFAS exposure isn't limited to drinking water; it can also come from food, personal care products, and industrial goods like paints and pesticides. To mitigate risks, Australians are advised to use water filters where possible.
Early studies have suggested that PFOA is dermally absorbed (absorbed through the skin) and that under certain conditions, the skin may be a significant route of exposure (Franko et al., 2012). Unfortunately, most studies have ignored dermal PFOA exposure in their investigations, due to the assumption that it is not well absorbed by the skin.
Filters with activated carbon or reverse osmosis membranes have proven effective in removing PFAS from water supplies. Regular replacement of the carbon filter is also critical in ensuring maximum effectiveness of the cartridge, and avoiding the risk of exposure.
There are two primary types of home water treatment systems that filters PFAS chemicals:
- 1. Point-of-Use (POU) Systems:These treat water at a specific location, like an undersink filter, or reverse osmosis unit.
- 2. Point-of-Entry (POE) Systems:These are installed where water enters the home, treating all the water used for drinking, bathing, and other household activities. Puretec offers a range of solutions that can be used to reduce the levels of PFAS present, below is a set of recommendations.
1. Best Option:FilterWall ™ F5 & RO270
FilterWall ™ F5 Whole House Water Filter System
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To achieve optimal protection against PFAS,our best recommendation is to pair the FilterWall ™ F5 for whole house filtration, along with the RO270 reverse osmosis under sink system for ultra-fine filtration.By connecting the FilterWall ™ F Series to your mains water inlet, you gain access to filtered water across your whole house for healthy drinking and bathing water. This means your daily exposure to PFAS is significantly reduced across all interactions with water. To further secure optimal drinking water, installing the RO270 under sink reverse osmosis filter will effectively separate chemicals from water with the use of the ultra-fine membrane. Reverse Osmosis is our best partner against PFAS, flushing all contaminants and reducing up to 96% of all dissolved impurities, heavy metals, salts, viruses, bacteria, cysts, fluoride, nitrate, chlorine, taste, odour and chemicals.
Installing a pfas filter will not only protect your health from these chemicals, but filtration across the whole house can also protect your skin and hair, and provide you with great-tasting water at home.
2. Better Option:FilterWall ™ F5 & PureMix Z7
FilterWall ™ F5 Whole House Water Filter System
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To achieve a greater level of protection against PFAS,we recommend pairing the FilterWall ™ F5 for whole house filtration, along with PureMix Z7 undersink filter for an extra layer of carbon filtration.The FilterWall ™ F Series is a whole house filtration system connected to your mains water inlet, ensuring that every drop of water entering your home is filtered. Your daily exposure to PFAS chemicals will not only be safeguarded for drinking, but also for any water your skin comes into contact with. The PureMix Z7 under sink system is a 15 inch unit, that can filter drinking water down to approx. 1 micron*. The 3 stage filter is designed for low pressure, high sediment applications, making it ideal for not only mains water, but also rain, harsh and even rural water supplies. We recommend this filtration combination for PFAS reduction as the PureMix Z7 can work in conjunction with the FilterWall™ F5, for its ability to absorb additional chemicals with activated carbon technology.
3. Good Option:FilterWall ™ F5
FilterWall ™ F5 Whole House Water Filter System
To achieve a good level of protection against PFAS,we recommend installing the FilterWall™ F5 to your mains water inlet for whole house filtration.With the 20’’ carbon filter, your daily exposure to PFAS will be reduced at every tap in your home for healthy drinking and bathing water. The 3 stage filtration system will not only aid PFAS reduction, but also reduce chlorine bad taste and odour. The FilterWall™ has been designed to be installed along your fence, or along the side of your house for an aesthetic look. We recommend adding whole house filtration to minimise your contact with PFAS chemicals across all your interactions with water around the home.
Product Links
Here are the PFAS water filters recommended and suitable for your home.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is PFAS likely to be affecting my household?
Reports indicate that PFAS have been detected in the drinking water of up to 1.8 million Australians since 2010, including in areas such as Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, and regional centres across Queensland, Western Australia, New South Wales, and the Northern Territory. TheAustralian PFAS Chemicals Mapis a detailed resource, providing information relating to PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl) substances.
Will boiling my water treat PFAS chemicals?
Boiling water is not considered to be an effective method of removing PFAS.
How important is it to regularly change filters?
Regardless of the system chosen, it is crucial to follow the manufacturer's maintenance guidelines to ensure the filters remain effective. Maintenance can include washing cartridges, changing filters, disinfecting the unit, backwashing, or cleaning out mineral build-up (scale). Water treatment units that are not properly maintained will lose their effectiveness over time.
What have the Australian Government said?
Advice from the Australian Government PFAS Taskforce concluded "While we know these chemicals can persist in humans, animals, and the environment, there is currently limited understanding of the human health effects of long-term PFAS exposure. Therefore, as a precaution, governments in Australia recommend that exposure be reduced wherever possible while research into any potential health effects continues".
How do PFAS move through the environment?
Dr. Jessica Ray, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of Washington advises "Unfortunately, PFAS like to stick to solid surfaces like soils. They can dissolve in water and enter the Earth's atmosphere. And because PFAS can permeate air, water and soil, humans and animals can be exposed to them in a multitude of ways. And unfortunately, researchers have detected PFAS inmany, many different drinking watersources worldwide. Not just surface water and groundwater,but bottled water as well.
How can we avoid personal exposure to PFAS?
"Finding ways to remove PFAS loads to the environment and to drinking water will be important given the Environmental Protection Agency ruling in April 2024 to regulate several PFAS in drinking water. If you are filtering your water at home using a filtration cartridge, then that can help to remove a wide variety of contaminants. These contaminants can include heavy metals or other dissolved contaminants in water" states Dr. Ray.
References:
- • EPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency), "PFAS Drinking Water Regulation and Treatment Methods" Webinar Presentation.
- • EPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency), "Key EPA Actions to Address PFAS", April 2024.
- • Environmental Protection Agency Victoria, "About PFAS".
- • PFAS Map Australia
- • Immunotoxicity and allergenic potential induced by topical application of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in a murine model; Hillary L. Shane, Rachel Baur, Ewa Lukomska, Lisa Weatherly, Stacey E. Anderson,
- • "Immunotoxicity and allergenic potential induced by topical application of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in a murine model", Food and Chemical Toxicology, Volume 136, 2020, 111114, ISSN 0278-6915.
- • Biggeri, A., Stoppa, G., Facciolo, L. et al. All-cause, cardiovascular disease and cancer mortality in the population of a large Italian area contaminated by perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (1980–2018). Environ Health 23, 42 (2024).
- •PFAS are toxic 'forever chemicals' that linger in our air, water, soil, and bodies - here's how to keep them out of your drinking water;Jessica Ray, Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Washington; published 11 June 2024.
- • "PFAS Chemicals in Australian Drinking Water - A Summary", Friends of the Earth, 3 May 2024.
