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PFAS and Water Treatment at Home
If you have concerns about your family’s health, you can take steps to reduce your exposure to PFAS chemicals. Studies have shown that water filters that have activated carbon or reverse osmosis membranes are effective at removing PFAS from water supplies.
Options include both point-of-use (water is treated at one faucet or location) and point-of-entry (all the water in your home is treated) filters to reduce PFAS in drinking water. Point-of-use treatment tends to be much cheaper than point-of-entry.
It is important to remember that all water treatment units need routine maintenance to work correctly. Poorly maintained water treatment units will lose their effectiveness over time.
Water treatment systems such as water softeners or iron filtration systems will not remove PFAS. Boiling water will also not remove PFAS, and in fact only concentrates the chemicals, since they do not break down.
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Do Brita Filters Remove PFAS?
No. While activated carbon in a Brita pitcher can help remove certain PFAS chemicals from your drinking water, it does not reduce their concentration to drinking water standards. Brita filters are not designed to treat PFAS and should NOT be used for this purpose.
Do Refrigerator Water Filters Remove PFAS?
Many people use filtered water from refrigerators believing it will protect them from harmful PFAS chemicals. However, a February 2020 study conducted by researchers at Duke University disproved this idea.
Heather Stapleton, Professor of Environmental Health at Duke and lead author of the study, said, “The under-sink reverse osmosis filter is the most efficient system for removing contaminants. All of the under-sink reverse osmosis and two-stage filters achieved near-complete removal of the PFAS chemicals we were testing for. In contrast, the effectiveness of activated-carbon filters used in many pitcher, countertop, refrigerator and faucet-mounted styles was inconsistent and unpredictable.”
How Do You Remove PFAS From Your Body?
Unfortunately, there are currently no definitive medical procedures that can remove PFAS chemicals from the body. The best step you can take is to remove the source of the exposure from your drinking water and environment.
FAQs
Can boiling water remove PFAS?
Boiling water does not remove PFAS. In fact, it can concentrate these chemicals as the water evaporates. Filtration methods like activated carbon or reverse osmosis are necessary.
Are there home water filters that can remove PFAS?
Yes, some home water filters are designed to remove PFAS. Look for filters certified by NSF International for PFAS reduction, such as certain activated carbon or reverse osmosis systems.
Can PFAS be removed from well water?
Yes, PFAS can be removed from well water using filtration systems such as activated carbon filters, reverse osmosis, or ion exchange resins. Regular testing and maintenance are essential.
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If you or a loved one was injured by PFAS contamination, you should contact our law firm immediately for a free case evaluation. You may be entitled to a settlement by filing a suit and we can help.