Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are man-made chemicals that have been used worldwide in consumer and industrial products since the 1950s. PFAS compounds are unique in that some are hydrophobic (repels water) while others are hydrophilic (can dissolve in water). Currently, EPA lists thousands of individual PFAS compounds but we can only reliably analyze approximately 40 compounds. New test methods for a wider range of PFAS are being developed but have not been approved for use by our federal partners.  

PFAS have been referred to as ‘forever chemicals’ due to the chemistry of the strong fluorine-carbon bonds. These chemical bonds are not easily broken down, so many PFAS can last a very long time in the environment.

• Some nonstick cookware
• Food packaging (microwave popcorn bags, fast food wrappers, pizza boxes)
• Cosmetics (lipstick, eye makeup, hair products) 
• Water and stain resistant clothing, carpet, and some fabrics 
• Dental floss 

DHEC Ways To Reduce Exposure flyer. 

PFAS has been detected in some drinking water all over the world and South Carolina is no different. Currently, PFAS levels in finished drinking water from public water systems are below the EPA Regional Screening Levels for tap water for the six PFAS compounds proposed for MCLs (PFOA, PFOS, PFBS, PFHxS, PFNA and GenX) and two others (PFHxA and PFBA). If you are concerned about PFAS in your public water supply, contact your local provider. 

To apply for private drinking water well testing complete this application. DHEC staff will prioritize assessments based on aquifer vulnerability, well susceptibility, and proximity to known PFAS sources. If your well is selected for sampling following an initial evaluation, DHEC staff (or applicable contractors) will sample, test, and provide recommendations. If PFAS are detected, well owners may be eligible for installation of filtration technology or provided funding to connect to public water supply. 

Most bottled water is not tested for PFAS, therefore, EPA cannot recommend bottled water as a replacement at this time. 

Because of the extensive use of PFAS compounds worldwide since the 1950s, PFAS have been detected in water, soil, sediment, and air. PFAS have even been detected in wildlife in very remote areas including polar bears in the Artic.  

Current peer-reviewed scientific studies suggest that eating and drinking (ingestion) is the most likely way that humans get PFAS into their bodies. Also, research indicates that skin contact (showering, bathing, washing dishes and wearing clothes containing PFAS) does not pose a significant risk. 

Most of the scientific research has been performed on laboratory animals at much higher concentrations than people experience from environmental exposures. 

Chronic effects for drinking water are calculated for a lifetime of exposure (70 years), assumes that an adult will drink 2.5 liters of the impacted water per day, 365 days per year for 70 years. 

Information obtained from the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) on PFAS compounds are listed below. 

• PFAS have been found in the liver, blood, kidney, testes, thyroid, and ovary. 
• High levels of PFAS may lead to the following health effects: 
  • Increased cholesterol levels 
  • Decreased vaccine response in children 
  • Changes in liver enzymes 
  • Increased risk of high blood pressure or pre-eclampsia in pregnant women 
  • Small decreases in birth weight 
  • Increased risk of kidney or testicular cancer   

Reduce the amount of PFAS-containing products used in your home. Even the smallest reduction will reduce your exposure.

The research today is telling us that the main exposure route is ingestion. If you are concerned about your drinking water, install a filter certified to remove PFAS on your faucet. However, available filters have only been certified to reduce PFOS and PFOA down to 70 parts per trillion (ppt). The 70 ppt concentration was the EPA health advisory until 2022 and only for the compounds PFOS and PFOA. 

Boiling water does not remove PFAS. 

DHEC’s focus has been on identifying where PFAS is found in our environment. To accomplish this we have undertaken several initiatives as outlined below.

DHEC developed strategies for determining the prevalence of PFAS in ambient surface waters, drinking water provided by South Carolina Public Water Systems, and private wells. 

The Ambient Surface Water Strategy included analysis of samples from lakes, rivers, and streams across the State. As part of the testing, DHEC collected surface water samples from 107 locations, four times at each location, over one year. As part of this study, fish, oyster, and blue crab samples were also collected. An interactive map was created to display the results and other data.

DHEC has implemented long term monitoring based on the results of the ambient water testing, DHEC has chosen 40 representative locations used in the initial ambient water testing and will continue sampling quarterly, for three to five years.

For assistance with the map, please email PFASInfo@dhec.sc.gov and a DHEC representative will contact you. 

The Community Drinking Water Strategy included testing of South Carolina’s community water systems (CWS). The data was assessed by analyzing finished water at 583 treatment plants. 

The Private (Individual) Drinking Water Well Strategy describes the current sampling private drinking water wells. Sampling and analysis are done at no cost to the well owner. To apply for private drinking water well testing complete this application. DHEC staff will prioritize assessments based on aquifer vulnerability, well susceptibility, and proximity to known PFAS sources. If your well is selected for sampling following an initial evaluation, DHEC staff (or applicable contractors) will sample, test, and provide recommendations. If PFAS are detected, well owners may be eligible for installation of filtration technology or provided funding to connect to public water supply. 

The results of these efforts will determine our next steps.

On April 10, 2024 EPA announced maximum contaminant limits (MCLs) in drinking water for five PFAS compounds — PFOS and PFOA at 4.0 parts per trillion (ppt), and PFNA, PFHxS, and GenX at 10 ppt — as well as a Hazard Index formula for a mixture of four PFAS compounds: PFHxS, PFBS, PFNA, and GenX. These six compounds are the most studied by researchers worldwide and have sufficient data to confidently assess risk. A MCL is a maximum concentration of a contaminant that can be delivered to any user of a public water system The MCL is based in part on the concentration that the most sensitive person can be exposed to for a lifetime without experiencing a negative health effect. The announcement included a schedule for monitoring, communication, and implementation over five years.

Currently, there are no South Carolina regulations for PFAS.

EPA has developed the PFAS Strategic Roadmap: EPA's Commitments to Action. As a part of EPA's Strategic Roadmap, maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for six PFAS compounds (PFOS, PFOA, PFHxS, PFBS, PFNA, and GenX) to be governed by the Safe Drinking Water Act have been announced. These six compounds are the most studied for toxicity in humans and animals. The MCLs and the five-year implementation schedule will become final when published in the Federal Register. MCLs are commonly set at concentrations that will protect the most sensitive population (e.g., infants, elderly, or other health conditions that make them more vulnerable) taking into account the lowest concentrations that can be reliably measured. Concentrations below the MCL are considered safe. 

EPA’s Office of Research and Development is conducting toxicity assessments on additional PFAS compounds in conjunction with academia and industrial laboratories. This research is thorough, but it takes time to go through the processes. Much of the research is conducted on animals but human data is becoming more available.  

Consistent with EPA’s PFAS Strategic Roadmap, the fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule sampling (UCMR 5) will provide new data that EPA has determined are critically needed to improve their understanding of the frequency and level at which 29 PFAS (and lithium) are found in the nation’s drinking water systems. Public water systems that serve more than 10,000 persons must collect, analyze and report concentrations of the designated 29 PFAS analytes (and lithium) once per calendar quarter for four consecutive quarters. Some smaller systems, selected by EPA, will also be required to sample and report as part of the project. UCMR5 is scheduled by EPA for national implementation in 2023 through 2025.

For more information regarding the EPA’s UCMR 5, click here. 

To view EPA’s first data set summary under UCMR 5, click here.