Perfluoroheptane sulfonic acid (PFHpS)
Status: No national drinking water standard exists
Perfluoroheptane sulfonic acid (PFHpS) is a member of a group of perfluorinated chemicals used in many consumer products. PFHpS and other perfluorinated chemicals can cause serious health effects, including cancer, endocrine disruption, accelerated puberty, liver and immune system damage, and thyroid changes. These chemicals are persistent in the environment and they accumulate in people. Click here to read more about perfluorinated chemicals.
2017-2019:
3
states detected
13
utilities detected
309,000
people served
0
states over health guideline
0
utilities over health guideline
0
people served over health guideline
Health concerns for PFHpS
Cancer
Harm to the immune system
Hormone disruption
Harm to fetal growth and child development
Harm to the liver
State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines
EWG Health Guideline 1 ppt
The EWG Health Guideline of 1 ppt for PFHpS was defined by EWG as based on studies by Phillipe Grandjean of Harvard University and many other independent researchers who found reduced effectiveness of vaccines and adverse impacts on mammary gland development from exposure to PFOA and PFOS, the two PFAS most widely detected in drinking water. This health guideline protects against applies to the entire class of PFAS detected in water.
ppt = parts per trillion
States reporting PFHpS in drinking water
| UTILITIES WITH CONTAMINATION | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| State | Utilities | People Served | |
| Wisconsin | 5 | 238,297 | |
| North Carolina | 6 | 66,886 | |
| New Hampshire | 2 | 3,735 | |
Filtering technologies that reduce PFHpS
Activated Carbon
Reverse Osmosis
Utilities with the highest amounts of PFHpS, 2017-2019
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Selma, Town of | Selma, NC | 1 of 1 | 1.40 ppt | 6,120 |
| City of Goldsboro* | Goldsboro, NC | 1 of 1 | 1.30 ppt | 34,959 |
| Seymour Johnson Air Force Base | Seymour Johnson, NC | 1 of 1 | 1.30 ppt | 6,875 |
| Jaffrey Water Works | Jaffrey, NH | 2 of 5 | 0.970 ppt | 3,612 |
| College View Mobile Home Park | Wilmington, NC | 2 of 4 | 0.356 ppt | 90 |
| Prolyn Townhouse Apartments | Pelham, NH | 1 of 2 | 0.200 ppt | 123 |
| Madison Water Utility* | Madison, WI | 1 of 12 | 0.0240 ppt | 235,000 |
| Maple Bluff Waterworks | Madison, WI | 1 of 12 | 0.0240 ppt | 1,342 |
| Shorewood Hills Waterworks | Madison, WI | 1 of 12 | 0.0240 ppt | 1,670 |
| Rimrock Road Neighborhood | Fitchburg, WI | 1 of 12 | 0.0240 ppt | 135 |
| Danville Drive Service Area | Fitchburg, WI | 1 of 12 | 0.0240 ppt | 150 |
* This water utility supplies finished drinking water to at least one other water utility. The purchasing utility is not required to test for or report Perfluoroheptane sulfonic acid (PFHpS), but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City of Goldsboro* | Goldsboro, NC | 1 of 1 | 1.30 ppt | 34,959 |
| Madison Water Utility* | Madison, WI | 1 of 12 | 0.0240 ppt | 235,000 |
* This water utility supplies finished drinking water to at least one other water utility. The purchasing utility is not required to test for or report Perfluoroheptane sulfonic acid (PFHpS), but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.