Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)
Types of synthetic chemicals known as "forever chemicals"
EPA drinking water health advisory for PFAS
EPA drinking water health advisory for PFAS
On April 10, 2024, the Alaska Department of Health (DOH) was notified that the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) adopted the final National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR). The NPDWR established maximum Contaminant Levels for six individual per- and polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) compounds in drinking water and a cumulative risk level for the sum total of four PFAS compounds.
Alaska DOH supports the EPA’s efforts to address PFAS contamination and reduce Alaskans’ exposure to these chemicals. The DOH will continue to work with the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), the Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF), and our federal partners to determine what this new regulation means to Alaska. We will also address next steps in protecting the health of Alaskans. This webpage will be updated as new information becomes available.
More information about the EPA’s updated drinking water advisory for PFAS can be found on the Drinking Water Health Advisories for PFOA and PFOS page.
What are PFAS?
PFAS are a large class of chemicals created for their heat, water, and stain-resistant properties. Because of these useful properties, PFAS are used in a wide variety of industrial and commercial uses and in many consumer products.
One of the most widespread uses of PFAS in Alaska is in Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (AFFF), which is used to extinguish petroleum and chemical fires. The use of these foams at airports and fire training centers can contaminate the environment and nearby drinking water sources.
PFAS do not break down easily and can be transported long distances in water. As a result, they are widely distributed in the environment and most people have been exposed to PFAS from one or more sources.
How can I be exposed?
PFAS compounds are used in many industrial processes, such as the oil and gas extraction industries, metal plating, textiles production, and hundreds of other uses. PFAS are also used in thousands of products, including takeout food containers, non-stick cookware, stain-resistant fabrics and carpeting, waterproof rain gear, some types of dental floss, and coatings on circuit boards used in cell phones and computers. Some of the main sources of PFAS exposure for the general public include:
- Drinking contaminated water
- Eating contaminated food, such as fish, or foods that have come into contact with grease or water-resistant packaging
- Contact with PFAS-containing products such as water-resistant fabrics, stain-resistant fabrics used for carpeting or furniture, certain types of floss, some cosmetics, and potentially hundreds of other everyday products
Additional types of exposure can also be:
- Swallowing indoor dust or soil that contains PFAS
- Work related exposures including firefighting foam, chemical manufacturing facilities, and other types of manufacturing
Most people in the United States have been exposed to PFAS from one or more sources and have detectable levels of PFAS in their blood. Since the voluntary phaseout of PFOA and PFOS from production and use, the levels of these compounds in people’s bodies have been steadily decreasing.
How can PFAS affect my health?
Scientists are still learning about the health effects of long term PFAS exposure. Although more research is needed, studies conducted in highly exposed communities have shown that PFAS may create higher risk for:
- Ulcerative colitis
- Increased blood pressure in pregnant women
- Changes in liver enzymes
- Slightly increased cholesterol
- Decreased immune response to some vaccines
- Slightly reduced birth weight
- Increased risk of thyroid disease
- Kidney cancer and long-term kidney disease
- Testicular cancer and decreased fertility
The potential for health effects from PFAS exposure depends on many things, including the amount and duration of exposure, your age, lifestyle choices, and underlying health status.
How can I reduce my exposure?
We are all exposed to small amounts of PFAS in our daily lives. Reducing the major sources of exposure is the best way to reduce the chances of experiencing any potential health effects from PFAS.
- Minimize your consumption of contaminated water
- Follow any local water advisories that have been issued by local or state government
- Drink bottled water
- Install a water filter
- Minimize eating foods that are packaged in PFAS-containing packaging
- Follow local fish consumption guidelines
- Reduce your use of products that contain PFAS compounds
PFAS in Drinking Water Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How do PFAS get into drinking water?
How do PFAS get into drinking water?
PFAS enter the environment mainly from industrial facilities, wastewater discharge, or the use of Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) used for firefighting. PFAS can also enter the environment from wastewater treatment facilities, landfills, and when biosolids are applied to agricultural land.
Most of the known water and soil contamination in Alaska that has been identified to date is the result of AFFF use. There is concern that landfills (which generally contain a wide variety of disposed consumer products that contain PFAS) may become a source of PFAS contamination. Industrial processes and the use contaminated biosolids, like fertilizer have not been linked to any PFAS contamination in Alaska.
What are the current federal health advisory levels for PFAS in drinking water?
What are the current federal health advisory levels for PFAS in drinking water?
The most up to date federal advisories can be found on the EPA PFAS website.
What are the current regulatory levels for PFAS in drinking water in Alaska?
What are the current regulatory levels for PFAS in drinking water in Alaska?
The most up to date regulatory levels for PFAS in Alaska can be found on the Alaska Department of Conservation's PFAS website.
Where can I find more information about testing my water for PFAS?
Where can I find more information about testing my water for PFAS?
DEC provides information on water testing in Alaska. Please visit the DEC PFAS fact sheets website for more information about how to test your water for PFAS.
What if my water contains PFAS at concentrations that do not exceed Alaska’s current regulatory action levels, but do exceed EPA’s interim health advisory levels?
What if my water contains PFAS at concentrations that do not exceed Alaska’s current regulatory action levels, but do exceed EPA’s interim health advisory levels?
- People in this situation may consider taking measures to reduce their exposure from drinking water.
- Technologies effective at removing many types of PFAS from drinking water include activated carbon adsorption, ion exchange resins, and high-pressure membranes. These systems can be installed in homes at the point of entry (where water enters the home) or even at the point of use (such as in a kitchen sink or a shower). Learn more about these treatment options at the EPA’s water treatment technology fact sheet.
- While installing a filtration system in your home can reduce PFAS levels, these filters may not reduce the PFAS concentration enough to get PFAS levels below EPA’ MCLs.
Local and Wild Foods Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is it okay to eat garden fruits and vegetables that were irrigated with PFAS-containing water or grown in PFAS containing soil?
Is it okay to eat garden fruits and vegetables that were irrigated with PFAS-containing water or grown in PFAS containing soil?
Yes. Exposure to PFAS from fruits and vegetables is not a significant exposure, and the health benefits from eating fresh produce outweighs any potential exposure. Consider an alternative water source for your gardening needs in situations with extremely high concentrations of PFAS.
How can I reduce my exposure to PFAS from garden produce that was irrigated with water or grown in soil that contains PFAS?
How can I reduce my exposure to PFAS from garden produce that was irrigated with water or grown in soil that contains PFAS?
- Avoid the use of PFAS-containing fertilizers. Instead, consider growing produce in raised beds with clean soil and using rainwater or an alternative water source for irrigation, especially if there's groundwater contamination nearby.
- To reduce dietary exposure to PFAS from fruits and vegetables, wash them in clean water before eating and peel root vegetables.
Note: DEC regulations (AS 46.03.710 & AS 46.03.745) prohibit the continued use of contaminated wells for all purposes, including watering gardens, because they may create new sources of PFAS exposure.
Is fish consumption a PFAS exposure pathway?
Is fish consumption a PFAS exposure pathway?
At this time, we do not know if fish consumption from contaminated water is a PFAS exposure risk. However, it is believed that the health benefits of fish consumption outweigh any potential PFAS risk.
Can I wash my fish with water that has PFAS in it?
Can I wash my fish with water that has PFAS in it?
Yes, rinsing fish (and other food items such as game, vegetables, etc.) with water containing PFAS is not an exposure concern.
Where can I find information about PFAS levels in Alaska fish?
Where can I find information about PFAS levels in Alaska fish?
It's important to note that the majority of fish sampled for PFAS by the Office of the Alaska State Veterinarian Fish Monitoring Program have very low, or often undetectable, amounts of PFAS. For more information, visit the Alaska Fish Monitoring Program page or call 907-375-8200 for additional information.
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) has issued fishing restrictions due to PFAS contamination for several water bodies in the Tanana River drainage. More information can be found in the ADF&G fishing regulations document.
Is game meat consumption a PFAS exposure pathway?
Is game meat consumption a PFAS exposure pathway?
It is unlikely that game meat consumption is a PFAS exposure risk.