On Monday Senator Chuck Schumer held a press conference in Long Island directly addressing the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) calling on them to address the lack of federal drinking water maximum limits for PFOS and PFOA’s.
So the most confusing part of this discussion, aside from the obvious question of why these chemicals are not already regulated, is what are these chemicals and where do they come from?
Firstly, the names. PFAS stands for Perfluorinated Chemicals which are a group of chemicals including Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). This also includes other chemicals such as Perfluorooctanesulfonic Acid. These are also collectively known as poly fluorinated chemicals – PFCs.
We know they don’t make these names easy to navigate…. so we will stick to the abbreviations!
PFOS’ and PFOA’s are man made chemicals that are found in regular household items that are resistant to sticking, staining, heat and grease. It is commonly found in cookware, water repellent clothing, and stain resistant fabrics such as carpets. It is also used commonly to make the foam used by fire fighters to put out blazes.
These chemicals are entering our water supplies through ground water around industrial sites, airports, military bases as well as through drains in areas where fire fighters have been. Because these chemicals have been designed to be tough and repellent of many things, they do not break down very easy, both in our environment and water supply, but also within our bodies if consumed. The results can be detrimental to health, with warnings that PFOS and PFOA’s are linked to thyroid disorders, kidney and testicular cancers, liver damage and autoimmune disorders. They are also linked to developmental concerns for unborn babies.
During the press conference with Sen. Chuck Schumer, Adriene Esposito, Executive Director for the ‘Citizens Campaign for the Environment’ explained why we should be worried about these chemicals in our water supplies. “This chemical is extremely dangerous. This chemical is so toxic it’s measured in parts per trillion.” She said. She went on to detail the health concerns. You can see the press conference video here.
The EPA has a 70 ppt (parts per trillion) health advisory of PFOA’s and PFOS’, which is a guideline only meaning that it is not enforceable and is not regulated.
According to the Citizens Campaign website; “Some of the Long Island contamination sites have detected PFC levels over the EPA’s Health Advisory Level, including the Firematics Fire Training Facility in Yaphank, which had detections as high as 2.54 ppb. There is currently NO enforceable drinking water standard for PFCs.”
These concerns are publicly centered around Long Island, however last year in California, 8 water supplies were found to have above the recommended 70 ppt levels of PFOA, PFOS or both, and those water sources were either taken out of service or steps were taken to treat the water to reach a level below the health advisory limits.
In Stuart Florida, a supply that provided 19,000 homes with water tested positive for PFOA’s and PFOS’s in testing conducted in 2014 and 2015. In 2016 when it was realized, that these chemicals carried with them damaging health concerns, steps were taken to lower the contamination of the water below the 70ppt limit. Even so, those residents were drinking the water for at least two years with known high contamination levels.
In a different conversation, residents in Newark, New Jersey has been living under high contamination warnings after the city reported elevated levels of lead in its tap water for at least three consecutive six-month periods beginning in 2017. The federal action level of Lead is 15 parts per billion, but in Jersey sites have sample tested much higher than the limit, one site tested levels at 182 parts per billion which is over 12 times the limit.
Lead has been linked to many major health concerns. According to the World Health Organization: “Lead exposure can have serious consequences for the health of children. At high levels of exposure, lead attacks the brain and central nervous system to cause coma, convulsions and even death. Children who survive severe lead poisoning may be left with mental retardation and behavioral disorders.”
So, respectfully, those who have the means to ensure they have safe and healthy water should do so, and not wait while the federal government works out what they are going to do. Anyone who has one of our PUR2o Alkaline Plus water filtration and purification systems already installed can sleep easy tonight. Our systems don’t just remove PFOA’s, PFOS’ and PFC’s, but it also removes Chlorine, Chlorine by-products, Pharmaceuticals, Industrial runoff, Fluoride, Pesticides and Fertilizers, Chemical solvents, heavy metals and more. All of the listed contaminants have been linked to various health concerns and chronic health defects such as cancer, birth defects, organ damage, disorders of the nervous system, and damage to the immune system.
We turn dangerous tap water into the favorite drink in the house, removing the contaminants, lowering the health concerns, and offering water that is Alkaline pH, Ionized and Mineralized with essential minerals, Calcium, Potassium and Magnesium, Hydrogenated, and filled with natural Electrolytes and Antioxidants.
As Americans we spend on many unnecessary things, we are all guilty… my self included… so today take a moment and consider making an investment today in something that could offer you a longer life span, a healthier body and an overall wellness for your whole family.
Call today for a free water analysis or consultation, we can’t change the past, but we can affect our future.
About PUR2o
We are striving to provide as many people as possible with filtered, purified, naturally alkaline and ionized water for drinking and cooking straight from the tap, for three reasons. We care about the health of YOU, the health of our PLANET and the health of your POCKET!
THE HEALTH OF YOU
Our goal is to provide as many people as possible with pure, crystal clear, safe & healthy water.
PUR2o Alkaline water is shown to benefit: Overall health and energy, weight management, muscle stimulation, brain power, digestive system, mood, body temperature, youthfulness, complexion, lifespan, and boosting your immune system.
THE HEALTH OF OUR PLANET
We are also committed to creating a greater awareness of how plastic and plastic bottles are polluting our planet and our bodies by providing the best water out of your tap, eliminating the amount of plastic we dispose of and how much water we consume out of plastic bottles.
THE HEALTH OF YOUR POCKET
Aside from all the health benefits of Alkaline Water, you save a tremendous amount of money with our systems! Did you know?…. If you drink eight glasses of water each day, it will cost approximately $55 per year; vs $1,700 if you were to drink the same amount of bottled water instead. The PUR2o system pays for its self in only one year by one persons water consumption.