From the April - June 2022 Jersey Sierran
In 2020 the NJ Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) adopted strict drinking water standards for three chemicals in the per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) family. Many NJ water systems soon found they were exceeding the new standard. In 2021, 74 water systems exceeded the state’s maximum contaminant level. This has contributed to increasing concern about PFAS chemicals in New Jersey.
What are PFAS?
PFAS are a class of chemicals that contaminates our drinking water, air, and soil. PFAS pollution is a public health crisis. “PFAS have the ability to persist in all environmental media, making their contamination ubiquitous. People in New Jersey have been exposed to these chemicals in their air and drinking water for decades. This is extremely concerning because very low doses can cause significant health effects,” explained Anjuli Ramos-Busot, NJ Chapter Director.
Health problems associated with PFAS include infertility, immune system disfunction, cancer, liver damage, developmental disorders, and thyroid disease.
PFAS are found in hundreds of products that we use daily, including nonstick cookware, firefighting foam, moisture- and stain-resistant clothing (eg, Gore-Tex), carpeting and upholstery, and cleaning products. PFAS are also used in food containers, grease-resistant food packaging, waterproof mascara, sunscreen, and shaving cream.
Beginning in 2002, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) took action to monitor PFAS chemicals in consumer products and control their manufacture and import. The chemical industry, in the intervening time, has worked to develop similar compounds that may be just as toxic but are not subject to regulation. The burden of mitigating this proliferation is widely referred to as “chemical whack-a-mole.” There are now more than 4,700 chemicals in the PFAS family.
PFAS are often called “forever chemicals” because they remain in the environment for an unknown length of time and bioaccumulate in the bodies of humans and animals. A 2015 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study estimated 97% of Americans have PFAS in their blood. PFAS are also pervasive in wildlife.
No Easy Solutions
When it comes to PFAS, New Jersey is one of the most heavily contaminated states. Removing PFAS from drinking water is costly for municipalities. For homeowners with well systems there is no perfect solution.
Two types of water treatment systems are usually recommended for removing PFAS from home drinking water. Both require regular maintenance. Granular activated carbon or solid carbon block filters are relatively low-cost. They are effective at removing long-chain PFAS, such as perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS). High pressure membrane filtration, such as reverse osmosis (RO), is more effective for a wider range of PFAS although it is generally more expensive and produces a significant amount of wastewater. RO also removes minerals like calcium, magnesium and potassium, which are necessary for human health.
Many assume that bottled water is safe, but there are no federal PFAS regulations for bottled water in the United States. A 2021 study found PFAS in 39% of bottled water products sampled, including some that were RO-treated.
Stopping PFAS at the Source
The most effective way to reduce our exposure to PFAS is to stop producing them. Studies by the CDC suggest that between 1999 and 2014, as production and use of PFOA and PFOS declined, blood levels in Americans dropped 60% and 80%, respectively. However, New Jersey has a legacy of decades of pollution by such companies as Chemours, DuPont, Solvay, and 3M, and the risk of exposure remains high.
The Sierra Club is highly engaged in the fight against PFAS contamination. The NJ Chapter has filed an amicus brief in support of a DEP lawsuit against Solvay Specialty Polymers USA to compel the cleanup of the company’s West Deptford site. In January the Sierra Club joined a lawsuit to force the EPA to close loopholes that allow companies like Solvay to underreport their levels of PFAS contamination.
Our Chapter staff is currently working with Senators Linda Greenstein (NJ-14) and Bob Smith (NJ-17) to liaise with the DEP to address PFAS emissions and contamination in New Jersey. An active volunteer committee provides staff support and outreach.
While we work to combat PFAS production and contamination, taxpayers foot the bill for cleanup, and we all pay an intolerable price in human health. We hope you’ll join us in the fight against PFAS pollution.
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PFAS
NJ Drinking WaterWatch: View drinking water info for your water system.