What are PFAS?

EWG (Environmental Working Group) defines PFAS as: Per- or polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS chemicals, are a family of thousands of chemicals used to make water-, grease- and stain-repellent coatings for a vast array of consumer goods and industrial applications. These chemicals are notoriously persistent in the environment and the human body, and some have been linked to serious health hazards.

The CDC (Centers for Disease Control) and ATSDR (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry) also note that:

• PFAS do not occur naturally, but are widespread in the environment

• PFAS are found in people, wildlife and fish all over the world

• Some PFAS can stay in people’s bodies a long time

• Some PFAS do not break down easily in the environment

How am I exposed to PFAS?

According to CDC/ATSDR:

PFAS contamination may be in drinking water, food, indoor dust, some consumer products, and workplaces. Most nonworker exposures occur through drinking contaminated water or eating food that contains PFAS.  

Although some types of PFAS are no longer used, many products still contain PFAS:  

• Food packaging materials 

• Nonstick cookware  

• Stain-resistant carpet treatments  

• Water-resistant clothing

• Cleaning products  

• Paints, varnishes, and sealants  

• Firefighting foam (AFFF)

• Some cosmetics  

**Protect yourself and your family. For a list of PFAS-free products, click here.

Can PFAS cause health problems?

The short answer is YES. According to studies, PFAS have been linked to:

• Testicular, kidney, liver and pancreatic cancer

• Weakened childhood immunity

• Low birth weight

• Endocrine disruption/thyroid disease

• Increased cholesterol

• Weight gain in children and dieting adults

• Changes in liver enzymes

• Decreased vaccine response in children

• Increased risk of high blood pressure or pre-eclampsia in pregnant women

• Small decreases in infant birth weights

• Ulcerative colitis

**Sources include National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, & Medicine, ATSDR/CDC, EWG, Wikipedia, C8 Science Panel

Are PFAS contaminating Nantucket?

YES. PFAS have been found at the Nantucket Airport. An investigation of the PFAS contamination is currently underway at the Nantucket Airport and it’s surrounding community. As of August 2020, contamination has been found in some of the wells on the island. For more information, please head to the Nantucket Airport PFAS Information Portal website or check back on our Local News page for updates.

See the MassDEP PFAS in Drinking Water Q&A for Consumers factsheet HERE.

How do I get my water or blood tested for PFAS?

If you find out your water, soil or air is contaminated with PFAS (or if you’re just curious), there are a few options to get your water and/or blood tested. To find out more, head to our TESTING LABS page HERE.

How do I read my PFAS water or blood test results?

This is a great question! PFAS-REACH has created an incredible tool on their website PFAS Exchange to help people interpret their PFAS test results. Grab your lab report and input your levels into the “What’s My Exposure” tool to see where you fall in relation to others.

Some additional tips:

• ng/L = Parts per Trillion or ppt, this is the amount of the chemical that was found in your blood or water

• MDL = Mass Detection Limit, this number is important as it showcases the sensitivity of the testing equipment. The lower the number, the better as it means the equipment will be able to detect very low levels. Anything below the MDL will show as a ND or Non-detect.

• RL = Reporting Limit, this is generally what the lab will have to report out.

• ND = Non-Detect, meaning that there is less than the detection limit can pick up or no presence of the chemical in your sample.

• When importing your data into the PFAS Exchange tool, it’s important to remember to also add up all the PFAS to get a sum total. They can add up quickly and this number will give you a better idea of total exposure vs individual PFAS exposures.

How can I limit my personal PFAS exposure?

Here are some suggested steps residents can take to limit and better understand their personal PFAS exposures:

• Test their water if on a well (Ref: Private Wells Page)

• If needed, consider implementing a water filtration system 

  • NSF is an independent, accredited organization that tests and certifies products and systems to protect and improve human health. 

  • Look for granular activated carbon (GAC) or reverse osmosis (RO) NSF certified filters:

    • For the removal of PFOA and PFOS look for NSF P473 or NSF Certified to Standard P473 on the product, packaging, or specifications.

Due to the fact that PFAS are unregulated, it can be difficult to identify which consumer goods have PFAS. Many products will not include PFAS on their ingredients list or disclose the use of PFAS in their manufacturing process or end product. A general rule is that if the product is grease-, water-, stain-, oil-resistant, you may want to contact the company and ask if they use PFAS in the manufacturing or processing of that specific product.

• PFAS are often used in:

  • Non-stick cookware and bakeware

  • Microwave popcorn

  • Dental floss

  • Cosmetics 

  • Outdoor gear and clothing

  • Upholstery and furniture

  • Ski wax

  • Car seats

  • Adhesives and sealants

  • Carpets

  • Artificial turf

  • Food packaging

  • Waterproof protective coatings

  • Pet flea and tick prevention topical medications

• Note that as more PFAS awareness, research, and education surfaces, companies have been changing their manufacturing policies that utilize safer alternatives, so asking for the most current information is the best way to know what is in a product.

• Avoid personal care products with “perfluor-“, “polyfluor-“, and “PTFE” on the label.

  • Note that PFOA- or PFOS-free labels do not mean that the product is fully PFAS-free.

• Safe alternatives for non-stick cookware are cast iron, glass, or ceramic options.

Making changes to personal PFAS use and exposure ultimately limits not only individual exposures, but will limit the environmental burden for the island as well.

I don’t live in Nantucket, how can I find out if PFAS are in my tap water?

Great question! Many local water companies have tested for PFAS in tap water and the EWG created a Tap Water Database, so if you’re not in Nantucket, you can find out the state of your tap water HERE.

Now what?

PFAS are a hot topic in the environmental advocacy world, let’s build on the momentum! We can all make a difference!

Education about PFAS and their effects on your health and environment is instrumental so you can make better choices to protect yourself, your family, and your community.

Contacting local, state, and federal officials to demand strong regulations, protections, and legislation around PFAS chemicals as well as hold chemical companies accountable for safe disposal/clean up of our communities are also key in the fight against PFAS.

Take Action NOW