Assessing the effectiveness of point-of-use residential drinking water filters for perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs)
Herkert NJ, Merrill J, Peters C, Bollinger D, Zhang S, Hoffman K, Ferguson PL, Knappe DRU, Stapleton HM (2020). Environmental Science & Technology Letters.
What they found
In 73 North Carolina homes, every under-sink dual-stage and reverse osmosis filter tested removed nearly all of 16 PFAS. Other activated-carbon filters (pitcher, faucet, fridge, countertop, single-stage under-sink) were variable, removing about 60–70% of long-chain PFAS but only about 40% of short-chain ones. In four of eight whole-house carbon systems, PFAS levels were higher after the filter.
- Sample
- 73 homes in North Carolina (61 central, 12 southeastern), 16 PFAS
- What it can't tell you
- One US state; filters were whatever homeowners had, of unknown age and maintenance, so results reflect real use rather than controlled tests. Small numbers in some filter types (8 whole-house systems). PFAS only, not microplastics. Single sampling visit per home.
- Funding
- Not checked (full text inaccessible). Crossref lists the Wallace Genetic Foundation and North Carolina State University.
- Topics
- Drinking water, Chemicals
- Checked against
- Abstract via Crossref metadata; funders from Crossref