WHAT ARE PFAS?

PFAS – or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances – are a group of man-made chemicals. Compounds such as PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, GenX, PFNA, and PFBS are part of the same class of chemicals and are commonly referred to as PFAS.

These compounds are found in a wide range of everyday products and used in many industrial processes. For example, PFAS have been used in stain-resistant and water-resistant textiles, fast food wrappers, cosmetics, paper products, and non-stick cookware. They have also been used to make some firefighting foams. Because of their widespread use, these products are found in water, air, and soil across the globe.

U.S. EPA researchers and others are working to better understand PFAS and the effect of these substances on people and the environment. This research has led the government toward establishing Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) for PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, PFNA, and HFPO-DA (commonly known as GenX chemicals) in drinking water to limit human exposure to these compounds. These levels are based on human studies in populations exposed to these man-made chemicals. Additionally, these new regulations set a Hazard Index for the cumulative levels of other PFAS chemicals.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES RELATED TO PFAS

US EPA’s - PFAS: https://www.epa.gov/pfas

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSCR) - Information on “PFAS and Your Health”: https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/pfas/index.html.

ATSCR - PFAS Exposure Routes: PFAS chemical exposure | ATSDR (cdc.gov)

Ohio EPA’s - PFAS Action Plan for Drinking Water: PFAS Action Plan for Drinking Water | Ohio Environmental Protection Agency

Ohio Department of Health -Factsheet on PFAS: Factsheet-PFAS+In+Drinking+Water-2022.01.pdf (ohio.gov)