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EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

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Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS)

Mineola

Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) is a member of a group of perfluorinated chemicals used in many consumer products. PFOS 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.

 

38

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

18

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
2013ND50ND
2014ND50ND
2015N/A00N/A
2016N/A00N/A
2017N/A00N/A
2018N/A00N/A
20194.38 ppt2818ND - 11.5 ppt

ppt = parts per trillion

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

EWG Health Guideline 1 ppt

The EWG Health Guideline of 1 ppt for PFOS was defined by EWG 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 applies to the entire class of PFAS detected in water.

EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL) 4 ppt

ppt = parts per trillion

All test results

Date Lab ID Result
2013-10-18201310220246AMND
2013-10-21201310220244AMND
2013-10-22201310240529AMND
2013-10-22201310240531AMND
2013-10-25201310290201AMND
2014-04-2235135242001AMND
2014-04-2435136022003AMND
2014-04-2435136022005AMND
2014-08-2535152913001AMND
2014-08-2535152913005AMND
2019-02-197080025001ND
2019-03-26200480251ND
2019-03-262004802523.69 ppt
2019-03-262004802539.02 ppt
2019-04-30200485793ND
2019-04-302004857914.32 ppt
2019-04-30200485792ND
2019-05-072004867813.92 ppt
2019-05-0720048678310.3 ppt
2019-05-07200486782ND
2019-06-18200492911ND
2019-06-182004929138.04 ppt
2019-06-182004929124.69 ppt
2019-07-1670976950017.60 ppt
2019-07-3070993670017.70 ppt
2019-07-3070993670032.40 ppt
2019-07-307099367002ND
2019-07-3070993670046.70 ppt
2019-08-21701022670053.60 ppt
2019-08-2170102267007ND
2019-08-21701022670017.10 ppt
2019-08-21701022670038.60 ppt
2019-09-102005050634.09 ppt
2019-09-1020050506211.5 ppt
2019-09-10200505064ND
2019-09-102005050619.57 ppt
2019-11-0670110908001ND
2019-11-06701109080029.90 ppt