PFAS: what they are and why they’re a problem

You have probably heard about PFAS in the news recently, though you might not know all that much about what exactly PFAS are and why they are such a significant problem.

PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a type of chemical used in many different ways, including food packaging, certain household products, and certain industrial processes. Exposure to PFAS is known to cause a slew of different health problems in both humans and animals, such as cancer and developmental problems. This is not unique among industrial chemicals, however, what makes PFAS so insidious is that they are long-lasting and difficult to detect. 

PFAS are what are often referred to as “forever chemicals”, meaning that they do not naturally break down in the environment. As a result of their prevalence in various products, they have infiltrated the environments of many places in the United States, including Maine. They are present in the water, soil, and even in the blood of plants and animals. Below is a map from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection showing various sites in Maine where PFAS are found:

As would be expected, PFAS are most commonly found in the more populated areas of the state closer to the coast. However, there are also many areas with more PFAS than one might expect based upon the population density of those areas. This is because these areas have many paper mills, which use PFAS in the process of making paper. A 2022 study from Colby College found that PFAS contamination in the Waterville area was partially caused by industrial contamination from a mill in Fairfield further north up the Kennebec river.

So what is being done about this problem? In July 2021, the Maine legislature passed a law which would require manufacturers to notify the DEP of products containing PFAS starting in 2023, and this same law will effectively ban the manufacturing of products containing intentionally-added PFAS, starting in 2030.

PFAS are certainly something we ought to be concerned about, and it’s not a bad idea to get your water tested for PFAS if you live in an area prone to PFAS contamination. In Maine, you can get PFAS testing assistance from the Maine Rural Water Association. Other states may have information on PFAS testing on their government websites.