Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances are a group of thousands of chemicals collectively known as PFAS. Since the 1940s, PFAS have been used in manufacturing, firefighting, water- and oil-resistant products, and many consumer products such as carpet, clothing, cosmetics, and food packaging. Two of the most common compounds within this class, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), stopped being produced in the United States (U.S.) in the early 2000s, but these compounds may still be present in imported goods.
 
 PFAS are present in many consumer goods, including food packaging and personal care products, and scientists have found levels of PFAS in the blood of nearly all individuals tested. Exposure to high levels of PFAS over time may cause adverse health effects such as increased cholesterol levels, increased risk for thyroid disease, low infant birth weights, reduced response to vaccines, pregnancy-induced hypertension and increased risk of liver and kidney cancer as seen in studies of laboratory animals. Exposure to PFAS above the recommended screening levels does not mean that a person will get sick or an adverse health effect will occur, screening levels are conservative estimates. The possible health effects of PFAS are dependent on how much a person is exposed to and how long they are exposed to it. Exposure to PFAS above recommended screening levels for periods of time may mean that a person is at a greater risk of experiencing these adverse effects.

Background

Under the Safe Drinking Water Act, EPA has the authority to set enforceable National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (NPDWRs) for drinking water contaminants and require monitoring of public water systems. In 2016, U.S. EPA adopted a Lifetime Health Advisory for PFOA and PFOS of 70 parts per trillion (ppt), both individually and combined when both are present. This is a non-enforceable value intended to provide guidance for evaluating unregulated drinking water contaminants. In March 2021, EPA published Regulatory Determinations for Contaminants on the Fourth Contaminant Candidate List which included a final determination to regulate PFOA and PFOS in drinking water. As a part of that final determination, EPA indicated it would also evaluate additional PFAS and consider regulatory actions to address groups of PFAS.
 
 On March 24, 2023, EPA proposed the PFAS NDPWR. Concurrent with the proposed rule, EPA also announced preliminary regulatory determinations for PFHxS, PFNA, HFPO-DA, and PFBS in accordance with the Safe Drinking Water Act regulatory development process. EPA proposed to regulate PFOA and PFOS with individual MCLs and PFHxS, PFNA, HFPO-DA, and PFBS using a Hazard Index which accounts for co-occurring mixtures of these four PFAS. Concurrent with the final PFAS NPDWR announced on April 10, 2024, EPA also announced final individual regulatory determinations for PFHxS, PFNA, and HFPO-DA, and final regulatory determination for mixtures containing two or more of these three PFAS and PFBS. This regulation will also remove many other PFAS when they co-occur with these regulated PFAS.
 
 On April 10, 2024 US EPA finalized a National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) establishing legally enforceable levels, called Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs), for six PFAS in drinking water. PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, PFNA, and HFPO-DA as contaminants with individual MCLs, and PFAS mixtures containing at least two or more of PFHxS, PFNA, HFPO-DA, and PFBS using a Hazard Index MCL to account for the combined and co-occurring levels of these PFAS in drinking water. EPA also finalized health-based, non-enforceable Maximum Contaminant Level Goals (MCLGs) for these PFAS.
 
The final rule requires:

• Public water systems must monitor for these PFAS and have three years to complete initial monitoring (by 2027), followed by ongoing compliance monitoring. Water systems must also provide the public with information on the levels of these PFAS in their drinking water beginning in 2027. Rockford has been monitoring for these PFAS since 2020.
• Public water systems have five years (by 2029) to implement solutions that reduce these PFAS if monitoring shows that drinking water levels exceed these MCLs. Based on low PFAS levels found below the MCLs, the EPA does not require the City of Rockford to take any action to reduce PFAs levels at this time.
• Beginning in five years (2029), public water systems that have PFAS in drinking water which violates one or more of these MCLs must take action to reduce levels of these PFAS in their drinking water and must provide notification to the public of the violation.

What are the potential health concerns associated with PFA's exposure?

Studies indicate that exposures to high levels of PFAS contaminated water over time may cause certain adverse health effects. Exposure to PFAS above the recommended screening levels does not necessarily mean that a person will get sick or an adverse health effect will occur. Research on the health effects associated with PFAS is ongoing.
 
 Scientific studies of laboratory animals, as well as studies on human populations exposed to PFOA and PFOS over periods of time, have shown that exposure to PFOA and PFOS above certain levels may result in adverse effects such as:
 
 • increased cholesterol levels
 • changes in liver enzymes
 • decreased response to vaccines in children
 • increased risk of high blood pressure or pre-eclampsia in pregnant women
 • small decreases in infant birth weight
 • increased risk of kidney or testicular cancer
 
 If you have specific health concerns, please consult your health care professional.

 City of Rockford Sample Results

PFAS in drinking water is a nationwide concern. More information and resources regarding PFAS and its potential impacts can be found on the EPA website” but change it and add the links to be “PFAS in drinking water is a nationwide concern. More information and resources regarding PFAS and its potential impacts can be found on the US EPA website and IEPA website.

US EPA - https://www.epa.gov/pfas

IEPA - https://epa.illinois.gov/