Analies Dyjak  |  Policy Nerd 

Our blog has been following PFAS contaminants such as the GenX chemical for months now, often reporting on new developments before mainstream news.
Today marks an important milestone: EPA has released a draft toxicity profile for GenX. This long-awaited toxicity report contains critical information for many states who have been seeking answers on this harmful contaminant.

EPA’s Draft Toxicity Assessments for GenX and PFBS:

EPA determined a candidate Chronic Reference Dose of 0.00008 mg/kg-day. A reference dose is the daily oral intake not anticipated to cause negative health effects over a lifetime. A reference dose is not a carcinogenic risk factor, however, EPA states that the toxicity data for GenX are “suggestive of cancer.” According to the draft report, oral exposure in animals had negative health effects on the kidney, blood, immune system, developing fetus, and liver. The draft toxicity report also provided information on PFBS, which is a replacement chemical for PFOS. The candidate Chronic Reference Dose for PFBS is 0.01 mg/kg-day, and there was insufficient data to determine its carcinogenic potential.

What Is GenX?

GenX is part of a category of contaminants called PFAS, or per and polyfluoroalkyl substances. The GenX chemical linked to cancer has gained national attention since being discovered in the Cape Fear River in June of 2017.
PFAS have historically been used in consumer products like Scotchgard, Gore-Tex, Teflon, and even the inside of popcorn bags. PFAS are also used in firefighting foam, which is the major source of its pollution in waterways across the country.

Background:

The Chemours plant in Fayetteville, North Carolina produces refrigerants, ion exchange membranes, and other fluoroproducts. They have been discharging liquid effluent into the Cape Fear River for years, which has contaminated drinking water for the entire area. GenX is the replacement chemical for PFOA. After PFOA was discovered to be toxic, manufacturers addressed the issue by making an equally-as toxic replacement. Manufacturers of PFAS have been doing this for years, which is why there are so many different variations present in the environment.

Is GenX Federally Regulated By EPA?

No. This means that municipalities are not required to test for PFBS or GenX in water. Additionally, this draft toxicity level is not a lifetime health advisory level, which states would be more inclined to follow.

When Will A Drinking Water Standard Be Determined?

Don’t hold your breath on anytime soon! The regulatory process can take decades, especially for such a persistent contaminant in the environment. This is more than enough time for adverse health effects to set in, and we recommend consumers do everything they can to learn about their water and protect themselves, rather than wait for the government to step in.

What Does This Mean For Me?

EPA is in the very early stages of determining a regulation or even health advisory for GenX. This draft toxicity level needs to go through public comment so that states, tribes, and municipalities can offer input and recommendations. If you want to see third-party data on filters that remove GenX in water and other PFAS, click HERE. 

Analies Dyjak, M.A. | Head of Policy and Perspectives

**Updated 9/21/2021 to include recent studies

What Is 1,4-Dioxane?

1,4-dioxane is a synthetic industrial chemical, typically used as a stabilizer for chlorinated solvents. It was historically used in the production of 1,1,1-trichloroethane (TCA), which was phased out in 1985 after scientists determined it to be an ozone-depleting substance. Today, 1,4-dioxane is not typically added directly to consumer products but can be an unintentional byproduct in certain plastics. It’s introduced as a trace contaminant in certain ingredients, most commonly detergents, foaming agents, emulsifiers and solvents, including Polyethylene Glycol or PEG.  

Is 1,4-Dioxane Regulated?

1,4-dioxane in drinking water is not federally regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act, even though EPA has classified it as “likely to be carcinogenic to humans by all exposure routes.” There are health advisories in place but a Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) does not exist. This means that unless a state has its own enforceable standard, utility providers are not required to remove it from drinking water. 1,4-dioxane is regulated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for indoor workplace air quality. 1,4-dioxane is on the fourth drinking water Contaminant Candidate List and is also part of the Third Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule. In 2019, New York State became the first state to regulate 1,4-Dioxane by establishing Maximum Contaminant Limits (MCL) of 10 ppb in cosmetics, and 2 ppb in personal care and household cleaning products by 12/31/2022, which will be further reduced to 1 ppb by 12/31/2023.  

How Does 1,4-Dioxane Enter Drinking Water?

1,4-dioxane has contaminated drinking water through both groundwater and surface water. Many instances of groundwater contamination are a result of 1,4-dioxane being used in various manufacturing processes. According to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, 1,4-dioxane can easily travel into groundwater because it is extremely soluble in water and does not stick to soil particles. 

1,4-dioxane contamination on Long Island, New York was a result of routine spills or direct disposal of solvents to the ground from manufacturing operations between the 1950s to the 1990s. 

1,4-dioxane was used in the manufacture of medical filters in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The methods of waste disposal used between 1966 to 1986 resulted in 1,4-dioxane being released into the environment, causing widespread groundwater contamination. 1,4-dioxane in drinking water continues to be a concern for local residents, even decades after the pollution was first discovered and remediation was to have been taking place. 

1,4-Dioxane has also been released into surface water, both into rivers or public sewage systems. Sources of contamination include effluent from industrial facilities as well as wastewater treatment plants.   

1,4-Dioxane Health Effects In Drinking Water

1,4-dioxane can harm the eyes, skin, lungs, liver, and kidneys. As previously stated, 1,4-Dioxane is classified by the US EPA as a likely human carcinogen. Like other contaminants, the dose and duration of exposure affect the likelihood and severity of adverse 1,4-dioxane health effects.

Why is 1,4-Dioxane So Hard To Remove From Drinking Water?

1,4-Dioxane is completely soluble in water. It dissolves completely, even at high concentrations. It also does not readily evaporate. Traditional treatment methods are ineffective at removing 1,4-Dioxane from drinking water, so a few larger municipalities have begun to incorporate specialized methods for 1,4-Dioxane removal in their processes. These can be prohibitively expensive for smaller municipal water suppliers, so there is not likely to be a widespread solution for 1,4-Dioxane removal implemented any time soon.  

What Can I Do if I Have 1,4-Dioxane in My Water?

There are no federal testing standards for 1,4-Dioxane, so we are unable to provide removal data. Hydroviv’s filters have however been tested and certified by NSF to remove VOC’s with similar chemical properties to 1,4-Dioxane. Most submicron pore size carbon block filters are able to address 1,4-dioxane, with the exception of granular activated carbon. A slower flow rate will also assist the carbon block filter by ensuring enough contact time with the 1,4-Dioxane and the filtration media. For example, Hydroviv drinking water filters incorporate carbon into our submicron block and at our 1 gallon/minute flow rate.

*Updated April 10, 2024 to include new information on PFAS regulation.

Analies Dyjak  |  Policy Nerd 

Per and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) have received a ton of media attention in the past few years. PFAS are a category of toxic contaminants that have invaded public and private drinking water systems across the entire country. This article discusses what PFAS actually are, where they come from, their health effects, and if they are regulated by the federal government. 

What Are Per and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)?

Per and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) are a category of “emerging contaminants,” which means they have been detected in the environment but the risk to human health is not well-understood. GenX, PFOA, and PFOS are all common variations that fall under the category of PFAS. Chemical manufacturing companies (including DuPont, Chemours, and 3M) have been using variations of these chemicals in industrial and consumer products since the early 1950’s. Scotchgard, Teflon, firefighting foam, metal plating, heat/water repellent products, and stain resistant fabrics are associated with this category of contaminant. PFAS are extremely persistent in the environment, which means they do not readily degrade. 

Are Per and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Regulated?

Yes. On April 10, 2024, the US EPA has announced drinking water standards to limit exposure to 6 types of PFAS chemicals. In addition, a few states have  established their own regulations for PFAS. Prior to this, the EPA established health advisory levels for PFOA and PFOA, but these levels were not actionable or enforceable. 

What Are The Health Effects of Per and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)?

According to a study by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), PFAS exposure is associated with various adverse health effects, including an increased risk of cancer (kidney and testicular), lowered fertility rates, increased cholesterol, and developmental issues in infants and young children. A new study out of The Yale School of Public Health recently found that exposure to PFAS increases the risk of miscarriage by 80-120% in pregnant women. The Centers for Disease Control also issued a disclosure regarding a potential intersection between PFAS and COVID-19. This is largely in part due to the fact that exposure to PFAS decreases your body's ability to fight disease, and impacts your body's ability to respond to vaccines. 

Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley, published some of the most compelling research to date in April of 2020. The researchers studied birth outcomes in Minnesota from 2002-2011, where high levels of PFAS compounds were detected in East Minneapolis and Saint Paul drinking water. The researchers found that exposure to PFAS chemicals can cause low birth weights and preterm births, both of which have been associated with long term developmental issues. The Berkeley team determined "a direct causal relationship between filtration of drinking water containing high levels of exposure to PFAS and improved reproductive outcomes."

How Are Humans Exposed To Per and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)?

• Consumption of contaminated drinking water
• Consumption of fish and shellfish that may contain PFAS through bioaccumulation
• Industrial exposure to workers who manufacture PFAS

What Are Public Officials Doing About Per and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)?

EPA set a Lifetime Health Advisory Level of 70 parts per trillion for both PFOA and PFOS. The rule of thumb for PFAS is that the sum of the category of contaminants should be no higher than 70 parts per trillion. ATSDR believes this level should be reduced to 20 parts per trillion for drinking water. Again, Lifetime Health Advisory Levels and Minimum Risk Levels are non-enforceable limits that municipalities are not required to follow.

Do All Water Filters Remove PFAS?

No. Duke University and NC State University tested various water filtration brands and their ability to remove PFAS from drinking water. We were surprised to see how poorly major brands like Brita, Pur, Berkey, Whirlpool, and GE performed in this study. If you'd like to see how Hydroviv filters stacked up, check out the results here. Some of the brands even added PFAS chemicals back into the filtered water, likely due to cheap/low quality media and over-saturation. 

If you have any questions about PFAS in your drinking water, feel free to drop us a line at hello@hydroviv.com. You can also visit hydroviv.com and use our live chat feature. 

Analies Dyjak | Water Nerd  
Updated March 3, 2022 to include current data

For Hydroviv's assessment of Washington, DC's tap water, we collected water quality test data from DC Water's annual Consumer Confidence Report and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. We cross referenced their water quality data with toxicity studies in scientific and medical literature. The water filters that we sell at Hydroviv are optimized to filter out contaminants that are found in DC's drinking water.

Where Does DC Source Its Drinking Water?

DC Water purchases water from The Washington Aqueduct, which is owned and operated by the Army Corps of Engineers. The Washington Aqueduct draws 140 million gallons of water from the Potomac River everyday. DC Water then properly treats the water before distribution. 

Lead In DC Drinking Water

Lead has been a major problem in DC's drinking water for several decades. DC had a major lead crisis in the early 2000’s, so this contaminant is something we like to look out for. According to this years report, 10% of the samples tested for lead had concentrations over 3 parts per billion. There were 118 samples collected over a monitoring period from January to June, and 3 samples had lead levels over the EPA action level of 15 parts per billion. EPA, CDC, and the American Academy of Pediatrics all acknowledge that there is no safe level of lead for children. It’s also important to note that many of DC’s homes were built with lead plumbing and lead fixtures, so the relatively small sample size may not necessarily reflect the scope of the lead problem in DC. We've linked a map of the identified lead service lines throughout Washington, DC. We highly recommend that DC residents take advantage of the city’s free lead test program. To get a free lead test kit, just call 202-612-3440 or email leadtest@dcwater.com.

Disinfection Byproducts in DC Drinking Water

Next is Disinfection byproducts or DBPs. DBPs form when chlorine-based disinfectants react with organic matter in incoming water. DBPs are split into two categories: Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs) and Haloacetic Acids-5 (HAA5). Concentrations of TTHMs averaged 52 parts per billion, but levels were detected as high as 66 parts per billion in DC water. HAA5 concentrations averaged 33 parts per billion. While Washington D.C.'s water quality is technically still in compliance of loose EPA standards, these levels are definitely high. www.hydroviv.com to talk to a Water Nerd on our live chat feature.

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