According to the Rhode Island Department of Health, showers and baths are not major sources of PFAS exposure. With that said, taking shorter showers and baths is still a good precaution.
Water Quality
There are PFAS In Your Bottled Water!
5 min read
More than 1 in 5 Americans drink bottled water — that’s more than coffee, soft drinks or any other beverage, totalling billions of gallons a year.
But bottled water has a dirty little secret: up to 93% contain tiny pieces of microplastics and toxic PFAS.
This group of man-made chemicals can have detrimental effects on the environment and human health.
Let’s take a closer look at the truth about PFAS and bottled water...
Per- and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS) are a group of chemicals that are used in consumer products because they’re resistant to heat, oil, and grease.
Some scientists call them “forever chemicals” because once they’re dissolved in the environment or the body, they’re almost impossible to remove.
PFAS are used in pizza boxes, paints, stain repellents, nonstick pans, and of course, bottled water.
There are over 5,000 different types of PFAS.
According to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), they can lead to serious health conditions.
The FDA is in charge of regulating bottling plants and making sure that they produce safe, toxin-free water, but they really just follow the guidance of the Environmental Protection Association (EPA).
So what does the EPA consider safe?
Below 70 parts per trillion for the two most common types of PFAS, but this is only a guidance, and not a hard rule.
In other words, bottled water manufacturers can do what they please.
Here’s what the real health experts think:
- According to Harvard University, the Center for Disease Control recommends limits that are 10 times lower than what the EPA currently allows.
- The International Bottled Water Association has a slightly tougher standard of 5 parts per trillion for certain PFAS, but some experts believe the levels should be even lower.
- A group of environmental researchers at Consumer Reports are advocating for only 1 part per trillion.
When you crack open your next bottle of water, there’s a good chance that your PFAS will be a tad too high...
Just how much PFAS are in your bottled water?
Researchers have found some pretty shocking statistics:
Consumer Reports recently tested 47 bottles of the world’s leading brands, and several had PFAS levels above the recommended limit.
Which brands failed the test and were above 1 parts per trillion?
- Deer Park Natural Sparkling Mineral Water: 1.1
- Tourmaline Spring Sacred Living Water: 4.64
- La Croix Natural Sparkling Water: 1.6
- Perrier Natural Sparkling Mineral Water: 1.1
- Canada Dry Zesty Lime Sparkling Water: 1.66
- Bubly Blackberry Sparkling Water: 2.24
- Polar Natural Seltzer Water: 6.41
- Topo Chico Natural Mineral Water: 9.76
Researchers think that artificial carbonation may enhance PFAS concentration, so if you’re going to drink bottled water, it’s better to avoid the bubbly stuff.
A separate study by Orb Media found even more shocking results:
They tested a total of 259 bottles from 11 different brands, including Evian and Aquafina, and ey found an average of 10.4 microplastic particles per liter.
And as you know, where there’s microplastics there’s PFAS, and they can have some pretty nasty side effects.
In lab animals, large amounts of PFAS can have several reproductive, developmental, and immunological health effects, including:
- Hormone imbalances
- Liver and kidney damage
- Birth defects
- Low birth weight in babies
- Decreased fertility
- Increased risk of asthma
- Thyroid disease
- Low immune function
- Various cancers
Although the effects of low levels of PFAS are still unknown, the findings are still quite scary!
One of the worst types of PFAS is called polyethylene terephthalate (PET).
PET easily seeps into water when plastic bottles are exposed to heat and stored for long periods of time.
Most microplastic particles are excreted by the body, but some enter the bloodstream, make their way to the organs, and do some serious damage.
Pregnant mothers and young children are the most at risk.
Most people in the US have detectable levels of PFAS in their blood because of their widespread use.
Although it’s not possible to completely protect your kids from PFAS, there are still a few things you can do:
- Install an-home water filter: Put down the bottled water and pick up a glass of filtered tap water. Reverse osmosis filters are the most effective, and they aren’t as expensive as you might think. Keep in mind that they need to be properly maintained, and that means changing your filter cartridges regularly.
- Be careful with seafood: Check your local fish advisories before serving locally-sourced fish and seafood. Some waterways are more contaminated with PFAS than others.
- Keep a tidy, dust-free home: PFAS can build up in household dust, so regularly wiping down surfaces and vacuuming carpets can be a huge help.
- Avoid nonstick cookware: Teflon pots and pans that are cracked and chipped can contaminate your food with PFAS. Use stainless steel or cast-iron instead.
- No microwaveable popcorn: Did you know that microwaveable popcorn can contain PFAS in the lining of the bag? Instead, buy corn kernels and pop your own on the stove top.
- Use glass food containers: Many plastic food storage containers are lined with PFAS.
- Avoid stain-resistant carpets and upholstery: Many carpets, rugs, blankets, sheets and furniture contain PFAS.
PFAS are some of the hardest chemicals to remove from tap water, but luckily RO systems can remove up to 99.9% of PFAS and other dangerous contaminants.
They also remineralize the water with healthy electrolytes, soften the water and improve the taste.
Who doesn’t like safe, tasty drinking water?!
But what about other types of filters? Are reverse osmosis filters really the only option?
In a recent study conducted by Duke University, scientists tested 89 different residential water filters, including:
- Faucet-mounted filters
- Water pitcher filters
- Countertop filters
- Refrigerator filters
- Under-sink filters
- Whole-house filters
They found that under-sink RO filters are the most efficient systems for removing the most common types of PFAS.
According to researchers, “All of the under-sink reverse osmosis and two-stage filters achieved near-complete removal of the PFAS chemicals we were testing for.”
On the other hand, many countertop, pitcher, refrigerator and faucet-mounted styles were inconsistent and unpredictable.
With that said, researchers also found that any system can be ineffective if it’s not properly maintained — that means changing your filter cartridges regularly!
Cloud RO Water Filters use built-in software to track your water usage and automatically ship replacement cartridges right to your door, so you never have to worry about tainted water.
They also continuously monitor water quality and sync to an app on your phone. Click here to learn more.
