Water Science Releases POU/PFC Study
Commissioned by the Minnesota Department of Health, Water Science and Marketing recently completed a study identifying a limited number of commercially available point-of-use (POU) water treatment devices as effective for the removal of Perfluorocarbons (PFCs) from drinking water supplies.
A new class of contaminants, referred to as PFCs, has been detected in drinking water supplies in Minnesota, Ohio, Delaware, and West Virginia. Due to the number of years of widespread and continued use of products containing PFCs (Teflon, Scotchgard, etc.), measurable concentrations are likely to be found in drinking water supplies.
While toxicity of various PFC compounds are known, third-party performance data has not been available to determine if the use of commercially available POU devices represent a viable treatment option in residential applications.
The study identified factors affecting reliability as well as and operational characteristics/limitations. Execution of the $640,000 study required the company to determine the theoretical bases/mechanics of PFC removal for candidate technologies and associated POU devices, create new test methodologies to ensure reliability of data, design/construct specialized test stations, and conduct both in-lab and field-testing.
The final report should soon be available at www.health.state.mn.us/divs/eh/wells/brochures.html.
Representing the first third-party performance evaluation of its kind, the study is considered a groundbreaking effort in the area of performance testing for the removal of emerging health-effect contaminants of concern such as:
- pharmaceuticals and personal care products,
- endocrine disrupting chemicals,
- nano-particles from unregulated advances in nanotechnology.
Water Science and Marketing personnel have been directly engaged in research, new product development, performance testing, and regulatory review of these emerging contaminants for the last several years. They are advising public health protection agencies and private corporations on technical and regulatory aspects, including their removal from drinking water sources and public supplies.