What Are PFOA - PFOS - PFAS ?  

BY Anthony Marchei

As promised by us from the very beginning we will keep things in layman's terms. However in this case a brief history is in order and important for you to understand what they are, where they come from and how you may already be using them in your home right now.  

Perfluorooctanoic acid and perfluorooctane sulfonate–more commonly referred to as PFOA and PFOS, respectively–are fluorinated organic compounds that are part of larger group of compounds known as perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Enough of the Geeky stuff....

These are man-made chemicals and are both water and lipid-resistant. Starting in the 1950's they were most commonly used as Non-Stick Cookware but also in Waterproofing and Fire Retardants. DuPont's Teflon ring a bell? How about Scotch Guard?  The negative health effects are serious and because of the compounds the last in the environment for a long time as they don't break down like other compounds do. 

The EPA has set a standard of no more than 70 PPT (Parts per Trillion with the exception of New Jersey which is 14 PPT! Hence the higher costs of water testing in New Jersey as well as the large amount of Superfund Sites here. Currently the most common fix in New Jersey has been a Twin Carbon tank Systems or a Reverse Osmosis Drinking system. Both a re effective but only a Carbon system would treat the entire house unless you plan on spending  north of $10,000 for a Whole House Reverse Osmosis System.  More detailed information about each can be found in our FAQ  section of our site. 

Bottom line. Protect your family and yourself. These harmful compounds are not limited to Private Wells either. Many are found in Municipality Water and and interactive map can be found HERE.