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1. What are PFAS?

Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large group of human-made chemicals that have been used in industry and consumer products worldwide since the 1950s. Their ability to repel water and oil and withstand high temperatures has made PFAS a particularly useful ingredient in industrial and commercial products, including non-stick products, stain- and water-repellent clothing and fire-fighting foams. These chemicals do not easily break down in the environment and have been known to accumulate in the environment and humans. In a nationwide study, low levels of PFAS were determined to be present in the blood of most Americans. Two PFAS, perfluorooctanoate (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), are the most extensively studied of these chemicals.

2. Are PFAS regulated by the federal or state government?

Currently, there is limited regulatory authority of PFAS at the federal level. In 2016, the EPA issued a non-enforceable Lifetime Health Advisory level for PFOA and PFOS of 70 parts per trillion (ppt) in drinking water. EPA is expected to update its advisory in late 2022.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has proposed drinking water and groundwater standards for 18 PFAS compounds. These standards are based on recommendations that DHS established in 2019 and 2020. To learn more about how groundwater standards are developed, visit the DHS groundwater standards website at dhs.wisconsin.gov and search “groundwater standards”.

For more information on groundwater standards, visit The Department of Natural Resource’s page NR 140 groundwater quality standards update.

3. I keep hearing different numbers referenced for Wisconsin’s PFOA and PFOS drinking water advisories. What does this mean for me, and how do I keep my family safe?

The proposed drinking water standard for PFOA and PFOS was changed from 20 ppt to 70 ppt to reflect EPA’s 2016 health advisory, but this change does not impact DHS’ health-based recommendations. DHS concluded that EPA’s health advisory of 70 ppt does not reflect the latest science on health effects of PFOA and PFOS – particularly those on the immune system – and it does not adequately estimate exposure risks to infants. DHS recommends that everyone take action when levels of PFOA and PFOS in their drinking water are above 20 ppt.  

4. What are the health effects of PFAS?

Although PFAS have been used extensively since the 1950s, experts are only beginning to understand their potential impacts on human health. This understanding continues to evolve based on ongoing research. Two of the most studied PFAS chemicals are perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoate (PFOA). Current studies suggest that exposure to high levels of PFOS and PFOA may:

• increase cholesterol;
• decrease antibody response;
• decrease fertility in women;
• increase the risk of certain types of cancer; and
• increase the risk of thyroid diseases.

 

Scientists are still learning about the health effects from exposures to mixtures of PFAS. For more information, visit the CDC's PFAS and Your Health website and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) PFAS webpage.

5. How are we exposed to PFAS?

The major routes of exposure to PFAS are:

• drinking water contaminated by PFAS;
• eating fish caught from water contaminated by PFAS;
• accidentally swallowing contaminated soil or dust.

 

Additionally, limited exposure may occur from consumer products:

• eating food that was packaged in material that contains PFAS; and
• using some consumer products* that contain PFAS.

*Research has shown that today's consumer products usually have low amounts of PFAS, especially when compared to levels found in contaminated drinking water. However, small exposures to PFAS are possible when a person comes in contact with or uses products such as:

1. some grease-resistant paper, fast food containers/wrappers, microwave popcorn bags, pizza boxes and candy wrappers;
2. nonstick cookware;
3. stain resistant coatings used on carpets, upholstery and other fabrics;
4. water resistant clothing;
5. cleaning products;
6. personal care products (shampoo, dental floss) and cosmetics (nail polish, eye makeup); and
7. paints, varnishes and sealants.

If you have questions or concerns about products you use in your home, contact the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission at 1-800-638-2772.

6. How can I reduce my exposure?

Because PFAS are found at low levels in some foods and in the environment (air, water, soil, etc.) completely eliminating exposure is unlikely. However, certain actions can be taken to reduce your overall exposure to PFAS, including the following.

• If your public water supply or private well water has PFAS levels at or above the DHS health advisory levels, use an alternative water source for drinking and preparing foods which absorb (rice, oatmeal) or have water as a main ingredient (soups, coffee, tea), and preparing infant formula. 
  1. Use purified or filtered bottled water,
  2. Filtered water from a pitcher, sink, or whole-house filter system with a certified filter technology. A granular activated carbon (GAC) filter that meets ANSI/NSF Standard 53 or a reverse osmosis (RO) filter with an included GAC component can filter out PFAS. These numbers will be printed on the filter and/or packaging. More information about filtering out PFAS from drinking water is available here: Reducing PFAS in Your Drinking Water.  
  3. Other sources of water that have been tested for PFAS and do not have levels above health advisories. 
• Follow fish consumption advisories. By following the consumption advisories currently in place where you fish, you will reduce potential health risks not only from common fish contaminants such as PCBs and mercury, but also from PFAS. More information can be found on DNR's fish advisory page and by using the DNR's online query tool to check advisories in places where you fish. The DNR's current fish consumption advisories are also available in Choose Wisely: A Health Guide for Eating Fish in Wisconsin [PDF]
• Vacuum your home routinely, preferably using a vacuum with a HEPA filter. Soil containing traces of PFAS can be tracked into the home from outside. In addition, dust can contain PFAS from common household products, like stain resistant carpeting or water repellent clothing. Vacuuming reduces the overall amount of dirt and dust in a home.
• Limit contact with consumer products containing PFAS*. These may include:
  1. some grease-resistant paper, fast food containers/wrappers, microwave popcorn bags, pizza boxes and candy wrappers;
  2. nonstick cookware;
  3. stain resistant coatings used on carpets, upholstery and other fabrics;
  4. water resistant clothing;
  5. cleaning products;
  6. personal care products (shampoo, dental floss) and cosmetics (nail polish, eye makeup); and
  7. paints, varnishes and sealants.

*Recent federal efforts to remove PFAS from consumer products have reduced the likelihood of exposure in consumer products; however, some products may still contain them. If you have questions or concerns about products you use in your home, contact the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission at 1-800-638-2772.

7. Should I be worried about dermal (skin) exposure to PFAS?

PFAS do not easily enter the body through the skin. Therefore, touching or having skin contact with water, products or packaging containing PFAS is not a major source of PFAS exposure. Even if your water supply contains PFAS, it is still safe to use it for showering, bathing, and washing hands. However, when bathing infants and children, be sure to monitor them and discourage swallowing of bath or shower water. 

8. Can I use my tap water for typical household activities?

If your municipal or private well water has PFAS levels at or above DHS health advisory levels:

• We recommend that you use bottled water, an approved treatment device or another alternative water source for drinking and preparing foods which absorb water (e.g., rice or oatmeal), have water as a main ingredient (e.g., soups, coffee, or tea), and preparing infant formula.
• You may use your tap water for doing laundry, washing dishes, washing produce brushing teeth, and filling your swimming pool. These activities are not expected to be a significant exposure source. However, to reduce the chance of accidental ingestion of small amounts of PFAS, remind swimmers not to swallow pool water.

9. How can I safely feed an infant?

• Breastfed infants: Nursing mothers should continue to breastfeed. Nursing mothers should also drink bottled water that has PFAS levels below DHS health advisory levels or use water treated with an approved treatment device. Women can pass PFAS onto infants through breastfeeding; however, our current understanding is that the health benefits from breastfeeding outweigh the negative effects of PFAS exposure through breastmilk. While we do not know a lot about the health effects of exposure to PFAS in breastmilk, we do know that the benefits of breastfeeding are well-documented. For more information about the benefits of breastfeeding, please visit the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Women's Health breastfeeding webpage.
• Formula-fed infants: If your potable well water has PFAS levels at or above the DHS health advisory levels, we recommend that you use an alternative water source such as bottled water or water treated with an approved treatment device to make infant formula.

10. Can a medical test show whether I’ve been exposed to PFAS?

A blood test can measure PFAS in your blood, but this is not a test routinely done in a doctor's office. While it is possible to get your blood tested for PFAS, test results will only tell you how much PFAS is present in your blood and not whether your health has been, or will be, affected by PFAS. At this time, the scientific understanding of PFAS is not sufficient to determine health risks based on the level of PFAS in a person's blood. Most people in the U.S. have measurable amounts of PFAS in their body because PFAS are commonly used in many consumer and industrial products.

If you have specific health concerns or would like to have your blood tested, please talk with your doctor. Some of the health effects possibly linked to PFAS exposure, like high cholesterol, can be checked as part of your annual physical. It is important to have regular check-ups and screenings.

Additional information on blood testing can be found on the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry's (ATSDR) PFAS Blood Testing page. You can also read their Talking to Your Doctor about Exposure to PFAS fact sheet. The ATSDR is a federal public health agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

11. What is the average amount of PFAS in a person's blood?

Most people in the U.S. have been exposed to PFAS and have PFAS in their blood, especially PFOS and PFOA. During 2013-2014, the general population had, on average, below 5 micrograms per liter, or µg/L, of PFOA in their blood. In comparison, in 2000, highly exposed workers in PFAS manufacturing facilities had average measurements of more than 1000 µg/L of PFOA in their blood. As the production and use of PFOS and PFOA in the United States has declined, their levels in blood have gone down as well. From 1999 to 2014, blood PFOA levels among the general U.S. population have declined by more than 60% and blood PFOS levels have declined by more than 80%. For more information on PFAS blood level trends in the U.S., please read the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry's (ATSDR) fact sheet on PFAS in the U.S. Population. The ATSDR is a federal public health agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

12. Who can I contact about health questions related to PFAS?

Contact the Wisconsin Department of Health Services by emailing DHSEnvHealth@dhs.wi.gov.

13. Other Resources for PFAS Information

DHS PFAS Information

DHS PFAS Filtration Brochure

DNR PFAS Information

DNR Fish Consumption Advisories

ATSDR: PFAS and your health

ATSDR: Talking to your doctor about exposure to PFAS

EPA PFAS Information