Is my water contaminated by PFCs?

Eight communities had their drinking water contaminated by PFCs. If you live in Lake Elmo, Oakdale, Woodbury, Cottage Grove, St. Paul Park, South St. Paul, Invergrove Heights or Newport, your water may be contaminated. See PFC Contaminated sites in Minnesota for a list of affected communities and the water impacted.

Will these chemicals harm my health?

There have been many toxicological studies on the health effects of certain PFCs. Two types of PFCs, PFOA and PFOS, can cause birth defects, weakened immune system and hormone disruption. Less is known about another PFC, PFBA. Visit Human Health Effects of PFCs  for more information.

If I have 1 ppb of PFOA in my water, what does this mean?

Three types of PFCs contaminate water in the East Metro: PFOA, PFOS and PFBA. The measurement of the amount of these chemicals in your water is ppb or parts per billion. One ppb represents one microgram of something (i.e. PFOA) per liter of water (ug/l). This is equivalent to 1 drop of water diluted into 250, 55 gallon drums. The amount of PFCs considered safe in East Metro drinking water is:

• PFOA .5 ppb
• PFOS .3 ppb
• PFBA 7 ppb

What's the difference between Health Based Value and Health Risk Limit?

A Health Based Value (HBV) is the amount of a chemical in drinking water considered by the Minnesota Department of Health to be safe for people to drink daily for up to a lifetime. HBVs are advisory values used by state health and environmental programs as one tool for deciding what actions should be taken. HBVs are generally preliminary values, specific to certain sites.

Health Risk Limits (HRL) are set by a formal rule making process and apply statewide.

How can I reduce my exposure to PFCs?

In addition to contaminating water, PFCs are used in many consumer products. Given the pervasiveness of these chemicals, we can't completely eliminate our exposure to PFCs but we can take steps to reduce exposure.

Use a water filtration system in your home. View the MDH report evaluating the effectiveness of filters in removing PFCs (MDH Evaluation of Point-of-Use Water Treatment Devices for Perflourochemical Removal Final Report - Summary (July 2008) (pdf, 205 kb,6 pages)

1. Remove products containing PFCs from your home. For example, replace non-stick pans with cast iron or stainless steel.
2. Avoid food packaging that contains PFOA. Many microwave popcorn and fast food packaging contain PFOA.
3. Purchase PFC-free products.

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