PFAS : A danger for drinking water?

PFAS - Darspec

The different PFAS

PFAS are a family of several thousand eternal chemical compounds found in non-stick and waterproof coatings, cosmetic products, fast food packaging, fire extinguishing foams, etc.1. These are emerging contaminants made by humans in the 1940s that are resistant to stains, water and grease 1. PFAS, perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are very stable and do not degrade in the environment. This characteristic causes significant accumulations in the air, soil and water. Since the 2000s, PFAS have become increasingly a concern, particularly due to their adverse health effects and their presence in our drinking water. By being regularly consumed in water, they gradually affect the population, especially when concentrations are high.

Health risks

If these eternal chemicals are ingested, they can be harmful to health and cause liver or thyroid problems or disrupt the hormonal system and reproductive functions 1. They increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, weaken the immune system and cause a poorer response to vaccination2.

Regulations in Quebec

There are no standards governing PFAS in Quebec. However, Health Canada has established a target for PFAS in drinking water through a public consultation in 2024. This is a proposal for a provisional target of 30 nanograms per litre for a sum of 25 PFAS, with the aim of reducing exposure to these chemical substances 4. The MELCCFP (Ministry of the Environment, the Fight against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks) has been monitoring since 2007 and has put in place rules to regulate human activities that may release PFAS into the environment 3.

Elsewhere in the world, a few laws are being put in place. In the United States, the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) has established maximum concentration standards in drinking water of 0.02 ng/L and 0.004 ng/L for PFOS and PFOA respectively 3. The latter two are the two most present and dangerous substances 5. For its part, the European Union has planned to regulate the concentration in 2026 at 100 ng/L for the sum of 20 compounds 3.

PFAS in our drinking water

In Quebec, PFAS concentrations in drinking water are still low and not alarming. They are found in wastewater discharge or during runoff carrying PFAS into surface water and landfills 3. Water is not the main source of contamination for humans 3. In addition, we do not have any PFAS manufacturing facilities 3. The MELCCFP is analyzing a better strategy to adopt to prevent contamination by these substances. According to a study by the Université de Montréal, only five Quebec municipalities do not comply with Health Canada's new proposed target 2.

How to protect your air and drinking water?

Several best practices make it easy to adopt measures to reduce the risk of PFAS contamination. Some of them are to reduce the amount of dust, ventilate the house, and limit the use of products containing PFAS 6. These can be verified by reading the ingredient list and making sure that the product does not contain the word "fluoro" or "perfluoro" 6. Activated carbon filters can be installed to absorb PFAS molecules present in the water and must be replaced regularly 1. Managing the water supply, identifying sources of contamination, and looking for alternative water sources are good solutions for reducing the concentration of PFAS in drinking water 6. Finally, we must remember that drinking water in Quebec is of very good quality and that it is constantly monitored to ensure everyone's health!

References

[1] PFAS in our drinking water: A real danger and how to avoid them? (n.d.). Diproclean.com. https://www.diproclean.com/pfas-polluant-eau-potable-eliminer-solutions-pxl-167_202.html#:~:text=au%20charbon%20actif-,Qu'est-ce%20que%20les%20PFAS%20?,eau%20et%20à%20la%20gras

[2] PFAS present in drinking water in Quebec: five municipalities in turbid water. (n.d.). UdeM News, news from the Université de Montréal | UdeM News. https://nouvelles.umontreal.ca/article/2023/02/27/pfas-presentes-dans-l-eau-potable-au-quebec-cinq-municipalites-en-eau-trouble/

[3] Environment Quebec. (2023, February 27). PFAS and drinking water [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fzybpipoGG8

[4] Standards and Guidance Values in Drinking Water | INSPQ. (n.d.). Institut national de santé publique du Québec. https://www.inspq.qc.ca/pfas/normes-eau-potable

[5] Government of Canada. (2024, August 9) Let's Talk Water: Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Drinking Water.

[6] Ministry of the Environment, the Fight against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks. PFAS and drinking water. (n.d.). https://www.environnement.gouv.qc.ca/eau/potable/composes-perfluores/index.htm

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