PFAS FAQs

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PFAS Resources

PFAS FAQs

Posted On: Mar. 4th, 2025 - 11:32 am

PFAS are a group of man-made chemicals with fire-retardant properties manufactured and used by various industries since the 1940s. PFAS have been used commercially in the United States to make products like stain and water-resistant carpets and textiles, food packaging, firefighting foam, and other industrial processes. Following are some frequently asked questions about PFAS: 

PFAS are a group of man-made chemicals used since the 1940s to make many products, including fire-fighting foam and stain-resistant, water-resistant, and nonstick items.

There are thousands of PFAS, some of which have been more widely used and studied than others. Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS), for example, have been two of the most widely used and studied PFAS. PFOA and PFOS have been phased out of use in the United States recently, often replaced with other PFAS.

A common concern associated with PFAS is that many break down very slowly and can build up in people, animals, and the environment over time. This is why they are often referred to as “forever chemicals”.

More information about PFAS, including their health effects and how people might be exposed, is available on the USEPA website | Learn More > 

The Arizona Department of Health Services has developed a fact sheet with information about PFAS and their health effects | Learn More > 

Current scientific research suggests that exposure to certain PFAS may lead to adverse health outcomes. However, research is still ongoing to determine how different levels of exposure to different PFAS can lead to various health effects. Research is also underway to better understand the health effects associated with low levels of exposure to PFAS over long periods, especially in children.

Current peer-reviewed scientific studies have shown that exposure to certain levels of PFAS may lead to:

  • Reproductive effects such as decreased fertility or increased high blood pressure in pregnant women.
  • Developmental effects or delays in children include low birth weight, accelerated puberty, bone variations, or behavioral changes.
  • Increased risk of some cancers, including prostate, kidney, and testicular cancers.
  • Reduced ability of the body’s immune system to fight infections, including reduced vaccine response.
  • Interference with the body’s natural hormones.
  • Increased cholesterol levels and/or risk of obesity.

Source: EPA.gov

PFAS can be present in our water, soil, air, and food as well as in materials found in our homes or workplaces, including:

  • Drinking water — in public drinking water systems and private drinking water wells.
  • Soil and water at or near waste sites — at landfills, disposal sites, and hazardous waste sites.
  • Fire extinguishing foam — in aqueous film-forming foams (AFFFs) used to extinguish flammable liquid-based fires. Such foams are used in training and emergency response events at airports, shipyards, military bases, firefighting training facilities, chemical plants, and refineries.
  • Manufacturing or chemical production facilities that produce or use PFAS — for example at chrome plating, electronics, and certain textile and paper manufacturers.
  • Food — for example, in fish caught from water contaminated by PFAS, crops grown with PFAS-contaminated water or chemicals containing PFAS and dairy products from livestock exposed to PFAS.
  • Food packaging — includes grease-resistant paper, fast food containers/wrappers, microwave popcorn bags, pizza boxes, and candy wrappers.
  • Household products — for example, stain and water-repellents used on carpets, upholstery, clothing, and other fabrics; cleaning products; non-stick cookware; paints, varnishes, and sealants.
  • Personal care products — for example, in certain shampoos, dental floss, and cosmetics.
  • Biosolids — fertilizer from wastewater treatment plants used on agricultural lands can affect ground and surface water and animals that graze on the land.

Source: EPA.gov

Due to their widespread production and use and their ability to move and persist in the environment, surveys conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that most people in the United States have been exposed to some PFAS. Most known exposures are relatively low, but some can be high, particularly when people are exposed to a concentrated source over long periods. Some PFAS chemicals can accumulate in the body over time.

Current research has shown that people can be exposed to PFAS by:

  • Working in occupations such as firefighting or chemicals manufacturing and processing.
  • Drinking water contaminated with PFAS.
  • Eating certain foods that may contain PFAS, including fish.
  • Swallowing contaminated soil or dust.
  • Breathing air containing PFAS.

Source: EPA.gov

PFAS can enter the environment from industries that make or use PFAS, from contaminated landfills or waste sites, from septic systems and wastewater treatment plants, and through products containing PFAS, like firefighting foam. PFAS may be released into lakes, rivers, or the ground, where they can move through soils and contaminate groundwater used for drinking water. Although PFAS can be released into the air, it is not known to be a significant source of drinking water resources in Arizona. 

On April 10, 2024, the EPA announced the final National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) for six PFAS. EPA established legally enforceable levels, called Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs), for six PFAS in drinking water: PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, PFNA, and HFPO-DA as contaminants with individual MCLs, and PFAS mixtures containing at least two or more of PFHxS, PFNA, HFPO-DA, and PFBS using a Hazard Index MCL to account for the combined and co-occurring levels of these PFAS in drinking water. 

These federal limits apply to all Arizona public water systems that the NPDWR regulates. All regulated public water systems will have until April 2029 to meet the new limits set by the US EPA | Learn More >

On April 19, 2024, the EPA announced a final rule to designate two of the most widely used PFAS chemicals, PFOA and PFOS, as hazardous substances under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), also known as Superfund. The designation provides the US EPA with cost recovery and enforcement authorities to address PFOA and PFOS releases in Arizona, which ensures that the polluters pay for investigations and cleanup | Learn More >

The hazardous substance designations also allow these chemicals to be addressed as necessary under Arizona’s Water Quality Assurance Revolving Fund program, known as WQARF.

Additional ADEQ Resources: 

Parts per trillion, abbreviated “ppt”, is a unit of measurement used to express an extremely small amount. Testing for PFAS in drinking water signifies the number of parts of PFAS in every one trillion parts of water.

One part per trillion would be the same as a single drop of water in 20 Olympic-size swimming pools.

ADEQ is conducting a comprehensive PFAS testing program to make sure that Arizona’s NPDWR-regulated drinking water systems are sampled for PFAS in advance of federal regulations free of charge. This testing program has a number of benefits for the systems and their customers: 

It provides PFAS sampling to smaller systems at no charge, potentially saving them thousands of dollars. These systems can then be notified of PFAS detections much earlier than if they wait until they are required to sample under the federal regulations. For those systems with PFAS concentrations higher than the EPA’s limits, they can get a head start planning for expanded testing, evaluating potential solutions, and applying for federal funding, if necessary. 

ADEQ’s drinking water testing program has also allowed ADEQ to begin implementing its PFAS mitigation plan, which prioritizes small and disadvantaged water providers. This plan, made possible by Governor Katie Hobbs’s $5 million state funding allocation in 2023, leverages an additional $63.5 million in federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds to help systems find ways to reduce or eliminate PFAS in their drinking water | Learn More >

To determine if PFAS have been detected in your drinking water, you can contact your public water system (water provider) and ask them if your water has been tested for PFAS. You can also view a map of test results on ADEQ’s My Community web page | View Map >

ADEQ does not regulate private wells. However, ADEQ has developed a guide to assist well owners who would like to sample their well for PFAS | Learn More > 

Additional information for private well owners can be found on the Arizona Department of Health Services’ website | Learn More > 

If you received a notice stating that PFAS has been detected in your drinking water, the notice may have included information about the levels of the different PFAS that were detected. If the levels in your water system are higher than the US EPA maximum contaminant limits, your water provider will need to do more testing and may begin evaluating options to reduce exposure. This FAQ discusses the maximum contaminant limits in more detail (see question "Are PFAS regulated in Arizona drinking water?").

If you get your drinking water from a public water system and PFAS are detected, in most cases, immediate action is unnecessary. More testing is needed to see if PFAS remains in the water over time. EPA’s limits are based on exposure over a lifetime of drinking the water and more than one sample will be needed to find the right solution. ADEQ will work with affected water providers to determine the best options to limit exposure.

If you remain concerned about PFAS in your drinking water, consider using or installing in-home water treatment (e.g., filters) that is certified to lower the levels of PFAS in your water. You can find more information about water filters that help reduce PFAS on the EPA website | Learn More >

Note: If you have concerns about your health, consult your doctor or health care professional.

You should be cautious when drinking bottled water to avoid PFAS. EPA notes that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not established standards for PFAS in bottled water. Therefore, bottled water companies are not required to sample for these chemicals in their products. 

The US EPA has identified several Best Available Technologies (BATs) and treatment methods for removing PFAS from public drinking water systems. These technologies effectively reduce the levels of PFAS in water to meet US EPA limits set on April 10, 2024. Here are the primary technologies recommended by the EPA:

  1. Granular Activated Carbon (GAC): GAC involves using activated carbon granules to adsorb PFAS from water.
  2. Ion Exchange Resins: Ion exchange resins are specialized resins that exchange ions with PFAS compounds in water, effectively removing them.
  3. Reverse Osmosis (RO): RO systems use a semipermeable membrane to remove a wide range of contaminants, including PFAS, by forcing water through the membrane under pressure.
  4. Nanofiltration: Similar to reverse osmosis, nanofiltration uses a membrane to remove contaminants. It has slightly larger pores than RO membranes.

These technologies can be used individually or in combination to achieve optimal PFAS removal based on the specific requirements of the water treatment system and the types of PFAS present. Each technology has its advantages and limitations, so the choice of treatment method often depends on factors such as the concentration of PFAS, the presence of other contaminants, cost considerations, and the desired level of PFAS removal.

Additional detailed information can be found in our PFAS Treatment Decision Trees | Learn More >