Frontline on PBS had an excellent program on Forever Chemicals this week.
They are toxic at high levels. They were used in products like Scotchgard across the country, but you expect levels to be highest where they are made or used in industrial processes.
The program focused on Dalton, GA where most carpets are made. Scotchgard (from 3M) or a similar product from Dupont was used to make carpets stain resistant. Waste water from the process went to the sewage treatment plant where PFAs were not removed. But water was sprayed on a field which drained into a river. The river provides drinking water to many downriver communities. Levels exceed safe levels.
PFAs are also used to make Teflon. And in firefighting foam. Where they train with foam, levels can be high.
PFAs do not degrade or degrades slowly. Levels are routinely found in blood samples.
Removal of PFAs usually uses carbon filters. The carbon comes from Calgon Carbon or Norite which also makes Darco charcoal. Calgon is owned by Kuraray Industries. Norite is privately held (purchased by One Equity partners 2022). No easy investment opportunities.
3M, Dupont (and spin off Corteva) have agreed to a settlement. (https://www.manufacturingdive.com/news/dupont-corteva-chemours-pfas-settlement-new-jersey-environmental-protection/756729/) But it won’t be enough to treat all water plants across the US. Carpet companies are also being sued.
I don’t think we have major PFA levels in St. Louis County water. Some has been detected in Illinois.
American Water (our water supplier) reports PFA levels here. https://amwater.com/MOAW/resources/pdf/ccr/StLouisRegion_2024.pdf
Nearly all are none detected but one is far below level of concern.
They have an article on the subject: PFAS https://amwater.com/moaw/Water-Quality/pfas
American Water has contracted with Calgon Carbon for granulated carbon and regeneration equipment to treat water at “more than 50 American Water sites across 10 states.”