On June 15, 2022, EPA issued new lifetime health advisories for four PFAS compounds. The advisory publishes a level for each compound below which no adverse health effects are anticipated based on the best available science. The new advisories are as follows:
PFOS - 0.02 parts per trillion. This compound is regularly found in our water. Over the past several years it has averaged 3.1 parts per trillion with a maximum of 7.2 parts per trillion.
PFOA - 0.004 parts per trillion. This compound is also found in our water on a routine basis. It has averaged 5.5 parts per trillion with a maximum of 13.6 parts per trillion.
PFBS - 2000 parts per trillion. Also routinely found in our water with an average concentration of 2.0 parts per trillion.
GenX (HFPO-DA) - 10 parts per trillion. This compound has not been detected in our water.
EPA's previous advisory for PFOS/PFOA was 70 parts per trillion, individually and combined so the new advisory levels are a very dramatic change. The detection limit for these four compounds is approximately 1.7 parts per trillion. The new PFOS/PFOA levels are far below our current ability to detect.