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Imagine that every day, without even realising it, you drink water containing chemical substances that never disappear that accumulate in the environment and in your body. Sounds worrying, doesn't it? Well, it's a reality with PFASknown as "eternal chemicals.
Recently in France, PFASs have been in the news a lot, particularly after the searches carried out in april 2024 in the Lyon metropolitan area, where theArkema and Daikin were accused of massive discharges of PFAS, contaminating local drinking water. These events triggered legal proceedings and action to apply the "polluter pays" principle, aimed at repairing the affected water networks.
These substances, used in many everyday consumer productsare extremely resistant and can persist in the environment for decades, even centuries. The problem? They often end up in our drinking water, posing a number of problems. risks to our health.
In this article, we'll find out what PFAS are, where they come from and why they're such a problem. More importantly, we'll look at the ways in which we can reduce our exposure to these invisible substancesbut potentially harmful.
Before delving into the details of their presence in our daily lives, let's start at the beginning: What exactly are PFAS?
PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkylated substancesThese are a large family of more than 4,700 synthetic chemical compounds. Created by man since the 1950s, they are valued for their unique properties: water resistancethe greasethe heat and stains. You could say they are the prodigies of industrial chemistry... with a dark side.
PFAS were originally developed to improve the performance of many products. Need a non-stick coating for your stoves? PFAS is here. Want a mackintosh that magically repels the rain? PFAS again. Their ability to make materials more resistant has won over many industries.
However, this exceptional durability comes at a price. PFAS do not degrade naturally, which means thatthey accumulate in the environment and can enter our food chain. From studies are beginning to show that this accumulation can have very harmful effects on human health.
Now that we know what PFAS are, let's explore where they are hiding in the world. our daily life and how they can affect our drinking water.
You may be asking yourself: "Where are these famous PFAS hiding in our daily lives?" The answer is simple: just about everywhere! These chemicals are so widespread that they are found in many of the objects and products we use every day, often without realising it.
*Small grammatical break: if a spot without an accent appears, it's a bit like a little dirt on your page, whereas the spot with an accent is much more serious, it's what you need to achieve (like understanding PFAS :))! Don't mix them up, even though they're both tough to deal with 😉
Fire-fighting foam Used by firefighters to extinguish fuel fires and other difficult fires, these foams contain PFAS for their exceptional effectiveness.
Industrial coatings PFAS are used to create chemical, heat and corrosion resistant surfaces in many industries, including aerospace and automotive.
PFASs are so widespread because their unique chemical properties - heat resistance, non-stick properties and exceptional durability - make them indispensable in many products and industrial applications.
Given the ubiquitous presence of these eternal pollutants in our daily lives, it's not surprising that PFAS are also found in our drinking water. But how do these "eternal chemicals" manage to infiltrate our environment and, ultimately, our glass of water?
Let's now explore how they circulate in the environment and end up in our drinking water.
We have seen how PFAS are invading our daily lives and even our drinking water. This widespread presence means that we are exposed to PFAS through various routes:
But what exactly are the risks to our health? Hang on to your hats, because the effects of these substances are not to be taken lightly.
Organisations such as theUS Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) have conducted extensive research into PFASs. In 2016, the EPA issued a health advisory stating that prolonged exposure to certain PFASs at levels above 70 parts per trillion (ppt) in drinking water could have adverse health effects.
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) also lowered the tolerable weekly exposure threshold for certain PFAS in 2020, reflecting growing concern about their effects on the immune system.
Although the WHO has not established specific guidelines for all PFAS, it recognises the risks associated with these substances. The organisation actively encourages monitoring, research and the reduction of exposure to PFAS in order to protect public health.
The European Union is gradually tightening its regulations on PFAS in drinking water:
In France, the Agence Nationale de Sécurité Sanitaire de l'Alimentation, de l'Environnement et du Travail (ANSES) recommends guide values for PFAS concentrations in drinking water in order to protect the population. These recommendations serve as a reference for water managers and local authorities.
In the end, it's clear that despite our best efforts, eliminating PFAS remains difficult because of their persistence, the high cost of filtration techniques and the need for international cooperation to find effective solutions.
After discovering the harm caused by PFAS and their insidious presence in our environment, you're probably wondering: "What can I do to protect myself and my family?" The good news is that while it's still difficult to treat PFAS in drinking water, you do have some options. the ability to act from home using water filtration systems. Follow the guide!
This technology is effective, but issues. While reverse osmosis filters can eliminate up to 99 % of PFAS, this is not without its drawbacks. impact on both water quality and the environment. and theenvironment. Because although an osmosis unit effectively eliminates contaminants from tap water, it's not the only way to remove them, it also eliminates essential minerals such as calcium and magnesiumIn addition, it discharges 60 % of water, wasting the environment.
Not to mention the high price and the need to replace filters and a non-recyclable membrane every year. We invite you to read our article Osmosis water: what is a domestic osmosis unit used for? to find out all you need to know on the subject.
By traditionalThese are the filters you will find in the filter jugs sold on the market. These activated carbon filters, although affordable and easy to install, offer only partial efficiency against PFAS, and only for those known as "long chain" (from 70 to 80% efficiency), leaving other contaminants potentially unfiltered, which makes them less efficient in the face of more comprehensive solutions.
Filters with advanced adsorptionwith specific technologies against PFAS, offer superior efficiency, even against Short-chain PFASIt also guarantees a longer service life than activated carbon filters, for a more durable, high-performance solution.
For example, the Opropre by LAVIE is a filter based on coconut activated carbonA resin designed to effectively capture and eliminate PFAS.including those with short chainswhich are more difficult to remove with traditional filters. More on this below.
Water distillation is an incredibly effective solution for eliminating almost all contaminants, including PFAS, chlorinated hydrocarbons and other contaminants. heavy metals and even bacteria. However, it also removes the beneficial minerals your body needs. With no filters to change, it simplifies maintenance. slow, energy-hungryAnd it requires an appliance that can take up a lot of space in your kitchen. What's more, it requires a machine that can take up a lot of space in your kitchen, it is not recommended to drink distilled water as part of a healthy diet!
Please note: Unlike distillation, simply boiling water does not work: boiling water can concentrate contaminants as the water evaporates.
Ion exchange resin filters have significant disadvantages. In addition to the cost of installation and high maintenance, they require regular replacement of resins and the addition of salt to the water, which can cause health problems for some people and alter the quality of drinking water. What's more, they have a significant environmental impact, consuming a lot of water and energy to regenerate the resins, which makes them a less sustainable solution in the long term.
Please note: The exchange resins in water softeners have no power over Pfas, whether they are short or long chain. You can find out more about water softeners in our article : Why install a water softener?Â
| Solution | Benefits | Disadvantages |
|---|---|---|
| Reverse osmosis | Highly effective against PFAS, filters out many other contaminants | High cost, water wastage, regular maintenance |
| Activated carbon filters | Effective for long-chain PFAS, easy installation, moderate cost | Less effective for short-chain PFAS, frequent filter replacement |
| Water distillation | Eliminates almost all contaminants, no need for filters | Slow process, high energy costs, bulky equipment and water depleted of mineral salts |
| Ion exchange resin filters | Effective for short- and long-chain PFAS, versatile | High economic and environmental cost, frequent replacement of resins, complexity of installation |
| Advanced adsorption filters | Specific technology for PFAS, longer filter life | Less available to individual consumers |
As a final piece of advice, we invite you to pay close attention to the quality of the water in your region by finding out about local health checks, which are easily accessible online:Â Tap water quality in France: we tell you everything you need to know
Now you know all the solutions for reducing the presence of PFAS in your tap water. Now it's time to offer you our solution, which we classify as a Advanced adsorption filtersOPROPRE Turquoise. This innovative pre-filtration system from LAVIE effectively eliminates PFAS, as well as heavy metalsthe microplastics and nanoplasticsoffering you pure water straight from your tap.
PFAS, these "eternal chemicalsFor a long time, these substances have circulated discreetly in our daily lives, infiltrating our products, our environment and even the water we drink, and ultimately our bodies. But now we are no longer in the dark. We know where they hide, how they affect us and, above all, what we can do about them.
The good news? By adopting effective solutions such as Opropre TurquoiseYou're protecting your health and that of your loved ones. It's not just an investment in a filtration system, it's a commitment to a healthier, more environmentally-friendly lifestyle.
But we can't stop there. By raising awareness among those around us, supporting eco-responsible initiatives and making informed choices, we can collectively reduce the presence of PFAS in our environment. Every gesture counts, whether it's choosing PFAS-free products, filtering our water or supporting stricter regulations and tighter health controls on our water.
Article written on 21/10/2024 by Pascal Nuti - CIO Solable - Passionate about energy, I'm constantly on the lookout for new targets for improvement, exploring cross-disciplinary paths using novel methods.
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