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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Perfluoro(3,5-dioxahexanoic) acid (PFO2HxA)

Status: No national drinking water standard exists

 

Perfluoro(3,5-dioxahexanoic) acid (PFO2HxA) is a member of a group of perfluorinated chemicals used in many consumer products. PFO2HxA 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:

FOUND
FOUND ABOVE HEALTH GUIDELINES

1

states detected

22

utilities detected

461,000

people served

0

states over health guideline

0

utilities over health guideline

0

people served over health guideline

Health concerns for PFO2HxA

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 PFO2HxA 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 .

ppt = parts per trillion

States reporting PFO2HxA in drinking water

UTILITIES WITH CONTAMINATION
State UtilitiesPeople Served
North Carolina22460,953
MORE
LESS

Filtering technologies that reduce PFO2HxA

carbon filter icon

Activated Carbon

reverse osmosis icon

Reverse Osmosis

Utilities with the highest amounts of PFO2HxA, 2017-2019

ALL UTILITIES
LARGE UTILITIES
UtilityLocationTestsAverage levelPeople served
Wrightsville Beach Water SystemWrightsville Beach, NC1 of 1274.7 ppt6,380
Pender County UtilitiesBurgaw, NC1 of 154.5 ppt24,236
Shallotte, Town ofShallotte, NC1 of 151.4 ppt5,862
Ocean Isle Beach, Town of*Ocean Isle Beach, NC1 of 151.4 ppt7,216
Brunswick County Water System*Bolivia, NC1 of 151.4 ppt100,694
Holden Beach, Town ofHolden Beach, NC1 of 151.4 ppt6,212
Navassa, Town ofNavassa, NC1 of 151.4 ppt747
Brunswick Regional Water and Sewer H2goLeland, NC1 of 151.4 ppt28,488
Town of Oak IslandOak Island, NC1 of 151.4 ppt23,635
Southport, City ofCity Of Southport, NC1 of 151.4 ppt6,447
Town of Navassa - PhoenixNavassa, NC1 of 151.4 ppt71
Leland, Town ofLeland, NC1 of 151.4 ppt5,662
Navassa, Town of-cedar Hill AnnexNavassa, NC1 of 151.4 ppt25
Bladen Bluffs Water SystemTarheel, NC1 of 133.2 ppt4,589
Oyster Point S/dWilmington, NC1 of 119.7 ppt99
Cape Fear Public Utility Authority - New Hanover County*Wilmington, NC1 of 119.7 ppt29,052
Cape Fear Public Utility Authority - WilmingtonWilmington, NC6 of 1119.2 ppt153,202
Bladen County Water Dist-east BladenElizabethtown, NC1 of 110.5 ppt3,889
College View Mobile Home ParkWilmington, NC4 of 48.00 ppt90
The Village of Bald Head IslandBald Head Island, NC1 of 12.90 ppt3,291
Longleaf Neuro-medical Treatment CenterBailey, NC1 of 20.550 ppt200
City of Wilson*Wilson, NC1 of 20.550 ppt50,866

* 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 Perfluoro(3,5-dioxahexanoic) acid (PFO2HxA), but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.

UtilityLocationTestsAverage levelPeople served
Pender County UtilitiesBurgaw, NC1 of 154.5 ppt24,236
Town of Oak IslandOak Island, NC1 of 151.4 ppt23,635
Brunswick County Water System*Bolivia, NC1 of 151.4 ppt100,694
Brunswick Regional Water and Sewer H2goLeland, NC1 of 151.4 ppt28,488
Cape Fear Public Utility Authority - New Hanover County*Wilmington, NC1 of 119.7 ppt29,052
Cape Fear Public Utility Authority - WilmingtonWilmington, NC6 of 1119.2 ppt153,202
City of Wilson*Wilson, NC1 of 20.550 ppt50,866

* 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 Perfluoro(3,5-dioxahexanoic) acid (PFO2HxA), but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.