A new report shows three times as many PFAs contamination sites across the country than was previously reported.
The report, from the Environmental Working Group, found roughly 610 PFAs contaminated sites across the country.
In July of 2018 the group reported 172 sites. Researchers say the new report drew from a new source, meaning the data isn’t directly comparable.
PFAs, or perfluoroalkyl substances, are a family of chemicals that have been found across the state and are linked to health problems including cancer.
Bill Walker is with the Environmental Working Group. He said Michigan has the highest number of contamination sites with 192, but that is largely due to the high level of testing taking place in the state.
“Michigan has tested drinking water systems, private wells, surface water, lakes and rivers, and I really haven’t seen anything of this scope in any other state.”
David Andrews is scientist with the Environmental Working Group. He said he thinks more testing will lead to more contamination sites
“We think in the coming future many more states are going to have many more detects just because the effort is ramping up in many more states.”
In conjunction with the report the Environmental Working Group called for a lower limit for PFAs in drinking water.
Research from the Centers for Disease Control has found PFAs can have health impacts at drinking water levels of 11 parts per trillion. The current EPA advisory level is 70 parts per trillion.
Bill Walker said new research shows impacts on fetuses can occur at even lower exposure levels.
“It can have perhaps a very subtle effect like a propensity to be obese later in life or it could affect something more serious like a child’s resistance to vaccines, or how well vaccines work on a child.”
Walker said the the EPA should set a drinking water standard for PFAs at one part per trillion.
In April, The Natural Resources Defense Council called on Michigan to set its PFAs standard at the lowest levels of detection, between two and five parts per trillion. That was for just two members of the PFAs family, PFOS and PFOA.
Walker said the one part per trillion drinking water standard should be applied to all PFAs. He said there are thousands of PFAs and it doesn’t make sense to wait until research can verify they are dangerous before setting exposure standards.