5 yrs+ Experience in Tiny Living | 2K Followers on Facebook & Instagram | 165.000 monthly views on Pinterest
PFAS contaminants in the water supply have been popping up in the news a lot lately. The reports are concerning, to say the least, but many people I’ve talked to are still wondering what PFAS actually are and what risks they pose.
As part of our overall series on water filtration while traveling or living off grid we’re giving a solid overview of what PFAS are, the health risks they pose, and ways you can effectively and affordably filter them out of your water to protect yourself and your family.
PFAS, short for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances, are a family of more than 12,000 different chemical compounds. They’re commonly used as waterproofing treatments for clothing and are the chemical compounds behind popular Teflon non-stick pans.
What makes PFAS special is the carbon-fluorine molecule bond they all include. It’s a powerful bond that’s nearly impossible for other molecules to break, causing them to slip off. If you’ve ever fried an egg in a Teflon pan you know what we mean here.
That’s great for their intended purpose but also means that PFAS don’t degrade naturally and last almost forever once introduced to the environment.
PFAS have been used widely for decades and are found virtually everywhere on earth, including, concerningly, in almost every blood sample analyzed by the CDC.
PFAS pose significant risks to human health through even tiny levels of ingestion. Numerous studies show a range of potential impacts that affect adults, children, and particularly infants.
The potential risks of PFAS have been known for decades but it wasn’t until June 2022 that the EPA issued health advisories showing that PFAS are potentially dangerous even at the lowest levels.
Studies reveal that PFAS exposure at even very low doses can lead to:
These are just a selection of the most serious potential health effects found from PFAS. They vary depending on the type of PFAS you’re exposed to and the level of exposure. Because thousands of different PFAS compounds are found in the environment, it’s challenging to identify all the possible negative impacts on health.
As with many toxin-related issues, infants and young children are most at risk because of their proportionally smaller body weight to intake dosage. Simply put, children drink more water, eat more food, and breathe more volume of potentially polluted air than adults do for their body weight.
A large-scale PFAS study performed by the CDC showed that blood PFAS levels declined rapidly after a water filtration system was installed. The trick is finding a water filter that can effectively remove PFAS.
Because PFAS are molecules rather than biological or physical contaminants, only a few types of water filters will successfully remove them. The two most effective options are reverse osmosis filters and activated carbon filters.
Reverse Osmosis water filters work by creating a difference of concentration in water separated by a semi-permeable membrane. By applying pressure to the water on the side with contaminants, pure water molecules can be forced through the membrane from the contaminated side to the uncontaminated side.
Because the membrane is designed only to allow water molecules, the contaminants are completely removed, including any PFAS present in your water.
Reverse Osmosis Filters we recommend:
Activated carbon filters are absorption-type filters that use activated carbon to absorb contaminants chemically. Activated carbon is created from organic matter such as coconut husks, peat, or wood and can remove significant amounts of chemical contaminants, including PFAS.
They come in two varieties, Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) and Solid Block Activated Carbon, with solid block the more effective but generally more expensive solution. The carbon has a dense structure of tiny pores that act to trap an extensive range of chemical contaminants.
As water passes through activated carbon filters contaminants are absorbed like a sponge. The technology has advanced significantly to the point where activated carbon filters can now reliably reduce hundreds of potential chemical, industrial, pharmaceutical, and agricultural contaminants by 99% or more.
Testing has shown that high-quality activated carbon filters are highly effective at removing PFAS from water. What’s important to note is the ‘high-quality’ modifier above.
Activated carbon has been used in taste improvement pitcher water filters in the past, but those generally didn’t remove significant amounts of PFAS or other harmful contaminants. Nowadays, though, some pitcher filters have been designed to reduce PFAS significantly.
Activated Carbon filters we recommend:
Pitcher/Countertop Water Filters
In-line/Undersink Home Water Filters
Bottle Water Filters
PFAS are found nearly everywhere, including in your drinking water, and have been linked to a wide range of adverse health effects. Using a high-quality water filter is one of the best ways to protect your family from the dangers of persistent PFAS.
Reverse osmosis or activated carbon filters can both help significantly reduce the levels of PFAS found in your water.
Picture a morning when you hear birds chirping and when you walk out of your little cabin, you are welcomed by a courtyard you share with other like-minded folks, who understand the beauty of simplicity. This is far from being just a fantasy; these are actual...
Minimalism has gained traction in recent years as an admirable avocation or trendy design style. This is particularly useful for people who have the aspiration to live in tiny houses. Adopting a “less is more” attitude brings more order in small space while also...
With the new year’s series quite exciting and the year being 2024, dry flush toilets are one of the appliances that seem prefered by a majority of people. Dry flush toilets are easy to operate, portable and maintain a superior odor-free technology. This makes it ideal...
