Brick MUA Adding Filtration System That Addresses PFAS

BRICK, NJ — Amid growing concerns about the effects of PFAS on humans and their prevalence in drinking water, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says it is conducting a national investigation of the health impacts.

New Jersey, where the state Department of Environmental Protection says there is extensive contamination, is included in the investigation.

A 2014 DEP study listed the Brick Township Municipal Utilities Authority as one of more than 20 water utilities where PFAS, polyfluoroalkyl and perfluoroalkyl substances, have been detected. That study was based on water samples taken in 2009 and 2010.

The 2014 study was part of a follow-up on a 2006 study and guidelines issued in 2007 by the DEP that set a health-based guidance level of 0.04 parts per billion (ppb) for PFOA. The guidance level was developed to provide protection from chronic or long-term exposure that might occur over an entire lifetime, the DEP said

In that 2014 study, the 2009 water sample from Brick had 0.100 parts per billion for PFOA, according to the NJDEP report. The water sample, taken from the Metedeconk River, also had three other PFAS detected: PFPeA, PFHxA, and PFHpA. They registered at 0.008 ppb, 0.012 ppb and 0.010 ppb.

"There is much that is unknown about the health effects of exposures to these chemicals," said Patrick Breysse, the director of the CDC's National Center for Environmental Health. "The multi-site study will advance the scientific evidence on the human health effects of PFAS and provide some answers to communities exposed to the contaminated drinking water."

Water utilities are working to filter out the chemicals, and have found the use of granular activated carbon helps to remove them, the Asbury Park Press reported. Keith Cartnick, senior director of water quality for Suez Water, told the paper that in filtration systems using granular activated carbon, the carbon grabs the PFOA as the water passes through the filter.

The Brick Township MUA was in the process of adding a GAC filtration system in early 2019. The GAC filtration system is what's used in Brita water filters.

"Brick Utilities water meets all current and proposed state and federal regulations for PFASs," said Joseph Maggio, director of water quality for the Brick MUA. "Construction of the GAC system has progressed substantially and we anticipate that the system will be operational in 2020."

Some studies have shown the possible effects of PFOA, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, include:

• interference with natural hormones, causing delayed or accelerated puberty
• reduced effect of vaccines
• increase cholesterol levels
• affect the immune system
• increased risk of cancer

Rep. Frank Pallone, D-NJ, has proposed legislation to address PFAS contamination and exposure, ensuring that polluters pay for the cleanup of these sites. He cited another report saying there are 517 water systems in New Jersey that have PFAS.

PFAS chemicals are used in the manufacturing of plastics, some of which are used in nonstick cookware, stain-resistant coatings for upholstery, water-resistant breathable outdoor clothing and firefighting foams, the DEP said. The use of PFOA was phased out in 2002.

They have been used to make brands such as Stainmaster, Scotchgard, Teflon, Gore-Tex and Tyvek. PFAS chemicals have been produced and used commercially and industrially for more than 60 years.

The multi-site health CDC study was authorized by the National Defense Authorization Acts of 2018 and 2019 to provide information to communities about the health effects of PFAS exposure. This is the first study to look at exposure to multiple PFAS at sites across the nation, the CDC said.

Note: This article has been updated with comment from the Brick Township MUA.

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