PFAS FAQ: Putting The Pieces Together.pdf

PFAS stands for Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl substances, a large and diverse group of thousands of chemicals used in various products due to their resistance to breakdown and stability in heat, oils, stains, grease, and water. They are found in stain-resistant clothing, furniture, adhesives, food packaging, non-stick cookware, fire-fighting foam, biosolids, and personal care products. The same characteristics that make PFAS beneficial also make them persistent in the environment and hard to remove, allowing them to easily move through soils, be dissolved in groundwater and drinking water, and bioaccumulate in living things. Many PFAS are found in the blood of people and animals globally, and exposure occurs through consuming contaminated water or food, using products containing them, or coming into contact with these chemicals. The most prevalent PFAS include PFOA, PFOS, HFPO-DA, and PFBS, with the EPA issuing health advisories for these chemicals due to concerns over their potential to cause disease and cancer. The State of Maine has established enforceable drinking water standards for six PFAS species, and the York Water District has performed testing, with all results being undetectable. The EPA has proposed new federal maximum contaminant levels for six PFAS in drinking water, which would regulate PFOA and PFOS as individual contaminants and four other PFAS as a mixture, aiming to prevent thousands of deaths and reduce tens of thousands of serious PFAS illnesses.