PFASs (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoralalkyl) are a group of synthetic chemical compounds used in a wide range of industrial and consumer products (kitchen utensils, cookware liners, meal containers, leathers, carpets, paints, cleaning products, fire-fighting foams, waterproof materials, technical clothing) known for their water-repellent, oil-repellent and stain-resistant properties .
The most widely used chemical compounds that belong to this group areperfluorooctanoic acid(PFOA) andperfluorooctanesulfonic acid(PFOS); in use since the 1950s, they have the characteristic of opposing biodegradation processes (persistence in the environment) and accumulating in the body (potential health toxicity to humans and animals).
PFASs are characterized by a high molecular stability, which favors their diffusion and permanence in the environment; in fact, they can be found in the air, in the soil, but also in water, where they enter the ecosystem if illegally (or improperly) disposed of in watersheds. If they do so, they quickly penetrate groundwater, reach cultivated fields, agricultural products and then our tables.
Because they are dangerous:
- Environmental Persistence: PFAS are highly persistent in the environment and do not readily degrade.
- Bioaccumulation (biological accumulation): These substances can accumulate in an organism’s tissues through the food chain in concentrations higher than those detected in the environment.
- Human Health Effects: PFASs have been associated with various adverse human health effects: cancer, fertility problems, thyroid disease, damage to the liver and endocrine and immune systems, impact on fertility, and increase in cardiovascular disease.
- Diffusion into water supply: PFASs can contaminate water resources: remediation of contaminated sites is technically complicated and costly.
How is the situation in our country:
In Italy, the PFAS problem exploded with the Veneto region, but massive contamination is also present in Piedmont, Lombardy and Tuscany and, to a lesser extent, in the rest of the peninsula.
How to reduce PFOA and PFOS in drinking water
Freshpoint ‘s two-stage filtration system reduces PFAS in drinking water by up to 98 percent when used as directed in the owner’s manual.
Encapsulated cartridge technology features extremely simple and intuitive “click in lock” installation.
Freshpoint is NSF certified to remove other contaminants such as lead, cysts, atrazine, lindane and VOCs (volatile organic compounds)
Do not hesitate to request information; our team is at your complete disposal.
