Menu

EWG's Tap Water Database — 2021 UPDATE

Donate

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA)

Dtma Main System

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is a member of a group of perfluorinated chemicals used in many consumer products. PFOA 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.

MORE ABOUT THIS CONTAMINANT

 

30

Samples

0

Samples exceeding legal limit (MCL)

2

Samples exceeding
health guidelines

Testing results - average by year

 
YearAverage resultSamples takenDetectionsRange of results
201411.2 ppt302ND - 206.1 ppt
2015N/A00N/A
2016N/A00N/A
2017N/A00N/A
2018N/A00N/A
2019N/A00N/A

ppt = parts per trillion

State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines

EWG Health Guideline 0.007 ppt

The EWG Health Guideline of 0.007 ppt for PFOA was proposed by California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment as a public health goal, the level of a drinking water contaminant that does not pose a significant health risk. This health guideline protects against cancer.

EPA Maximum Contaminant
Level (MCL) 4 ppt

ppt = parts per trillion

All test results

Date Lab ID Result
2014-02-18104900PND
2014-02-18104905P206.1 ppt
2014-02-18104908PND
2014-02-18104907PND
2014-02-18104906PND
2014-02-18104902PND
2014-02-19104903PND
2014-02-19104899PND
2014-02-19104912PND
2014-02-19104911PND
2014-02-19104909PND
2014-02-19104904PND
2014-02-19104901PND
2014-02-19104910PND
2014-05-21106963PND
2014-08-18108930PND
2014-08-18108932PND
2014-08-18108935PND
2014-08-18108937PND
2014-08-18108938PND
2014-08-19108926PND
2014-08-19108927PND
2014-08-19108928PND
2014-08-19108929PND
2014-08-19108934PND
2014-08-19108936PND
2014-08-19108920PND
2014-08-20108931PND
2014-10-14109567R130.0 ppt
2014-11-24109694PND