Per- and polyfluoroalkyl fluorinated substances called PFAS are dubbed “Forever Chemicals” due to the chemical bonds that hold the compounds together (about 5,000 substances) which never break down in the environment. PFAS can be found everywhere; they are in hundreds of products such as food-delivery containers and papers, nonstick cookware, stain-resistant clothing, carpets, and furniture, fireproof items, clothes, cosmetics, personal care products, and so much more. Tiny doses of PFAS are linked to cancer, reproductive and immune system damage, weight gain, and a plethora of other diseases. It is estimated that PFAS are found in the blood of 99.9 percent of all human beings on Earth, including newborn babies.
For many reasons (including factory and facility discharge), PFAS have been found in drinking water throughout the United States. Over 1,400 communities in 49 states have detected PFAS in their drinking water according to the Environmental Working Group (EWG). This equates to roughly 110 million Americans drinking PFAS-contaminated water.
What was once dubbed a “Miracle of Chemistry” is now an “Unimaginable Water Crisis.” Chemical companies have been covering up evidence of PFAS’ health hazards for decades. When DuPont introduced the novel nonstick Teflon brand to Americans in 1946, the PFAS substances used to make that material were translated into thousands of everyday household items that repel stains and are waterproof.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been investigating PFAS since the late 1990s. As our nation’s regulatory agency for drinking water, they have yet to issue an enforceable nationwide standard for PFAS. Even more risk factors have been discovered by scientists and environmental organizations about PFAS throughout the years, and still, the EPA has failed to act.
Drinking water includes both tap and bottled forms. Bottled water is overseen by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) which regulates contaminants in bottled water based on the EPA’s limits. Consumer Reports recently tested 47 bottled waters and detected PFAS in 43 of them, including sparkling cans.
To limit your exposure to PFAS, call the water experts at Reynolds Water today. They will test your water and offer an appropriate reverse osmosis filter. Choose bottled waters carefully, and avoid products that are known to contain PFAS.
For more information about PFAS, watch this documentary called “The Devil We Know” or browse this informatory website from EWG which explains in detail where PFAS originated, a map of the spread, and what you can do to stop it from affecting you and your loved ones. Also check out our past blog articles: “Michigan’s new PFAS Rules Among Strictest in Nation,” “Erin Brockovich claims the US is in an Unimaginable Water Crisis,” and “Toxic PFAS Leach Through Most In-Home Drinking Water Filters.”
Reynolds Water Conditioning was established in 1931 and is Michigan’s oldest water conditioning treatment company. Still owned and operated by the Reynolds family, we take pride in providing the highest quality products at a cost-effective price. If your tap water lacks the quality you deserve, contact us today at www.reynoldswater.com or call 800-572-9575.
Written by the digital marketing staff at Creative Programs & Systems: www.cpsmi.com.