Can a carbon filter remover PFAS (also known as forever chemicals)?

This post explores the potential of carbon water filters for reducing PFAS.

How Does PFAS Get Into the Environment?

Several potential sources include pollution from wastewater treatment plants, industrial emissions, runoff from firefighting foams, and industrial waste. Once in the environment, PFAS can infiltrate surface water and groundwater via soil seepage and surface runoff.

Even though the widespread use of PFAS has dwindled in the US, these chemicals are still imported into the country. Public water systems often lack the facilities required to address PFAS, so they aren’t typically removed at treatment plants.

What Are the Health Risks of PFAS?

In a 2021 government study on PFAS exposure, it was suggested that PFAS could elevate the risk of cancer, thyroid issues, liver and kidney diseases, adverse immune effects, insulin and lipid dysregulation, and reproductive and developmental health problems. There may be additional, undiscovered health effects related to PFAS exposure.

Raw coal crushed activated carbon

How Can You Test for PFAS in Your Water?

For a comprehensive understanding of the PFAS concentration in your tap water, consider obtaining a test package from a certified laboratory. Lab testing provides detailed insights into detected PFAS contaminants and their concentrations. Keep in mind that PFAS lab tests can be relatively expensive. If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly option, check your most recent annual Water Quality Report from your municipal water supplier.

Can a Carbon Filter Remove PFAS?

In general, carbon filters can reduce or eliminate PFAS from tap water, although it’s not a guaranteed outcome. Not all carbon water filter manufacturers claim that their products can reduce these chemicals. It’s important to recognize that not all carbon water filters are equally effective in reducing contaminants. Factors influencing their performance are discussed later in this article.

How Do Carbon Water Filters Eliminate PFAS?

Carbon water filters reduce or remove PFAS by adsorbing these chemicals onto their filter media. Adsorption involves physical and chemical accumulation of contaminants on the activated carbon surface, which is highly porous and effective in grabbing contaminants like PFAS as water flows through it.

How Much PFAS Can a Carbon Filter Remove?

A study by Duke and NC State scientists found that activated carbon water filters, on average, removed 73% of PFAS contaminants. However, removal percentages varied significantly; some chemicals were entirely removed, while in other cases, there was no reduction. To maintain effective PFAS reduction levels, it’s advisable to replace your filters when they reach the end of their lifespan.

Filter Age

As activated carbon filters age, their ability to remove contaminants, such as PFAS, diminishes. Toward the end of their lifespan, they have reduced capacity to trap impurities, which can lead to contaminants bypassing the filter media. Regularly replacing your filters is essential for prolonged system performance.

Other Media or Filters

Many activated carbon filters incorporate a blend of carbon and other filter media, such as ion exchange resins. These combinations can reduce or eliminate PFAS, contributing to overall PFAS concentration reduction. Additionally, activated carbon filters are commonly used in reverse osmosis systems, which combine carbon filtration with reverse osmosis membranes, capable of removing up to 99.9% of total dissolved solids, including PFAS, thus enhancing the PFAS-reduction capabilities of a carbon filter.

Key Takeaways

1. On average, carbon filters can remove 73% of PFAS.
2. Not all carbon water filters are created equal when it comes to PFAS removal. Some may eliminate almost all PFAS, while others hardly reduce any.
3. Factors influencing a carbon filter’s PFAS-reduction capability encompass filter age, quality, size, surface area, the type of carbon media employed, the specific PFAS variants present, and water chemistry.

About DATONG GUANGHUA ACTIVATED CARBON CO., LTD

DATONG GUANGHUA ACTIVATED CARBON CO., LTD is a water filtration system manufacturer with headquarters in Tampa Bay and El Paso, Texas with over 20 years in the business. We are so dedicated to customer satisfaction that our unique ten-stage system comes with a lifetime warranty.

Investing in purified drinking water can be a very smart move. At DATONG GUANGHUA ACTIVATED CARBON CO., LTD, we can’t claim to offer absolute protection against everything. What we can do is offer 15 stages of protection. And that’s fifteen reasons to give you peace of mind!

Contact Us

To learn more about our systems, reach out to our team in El Paso, TX or Tampa, FL today! We look forward to helping you find solutions that change the way you and your family enjoy the water in your home.