On September 27, 2019, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine directed Ohio EPA and Ohio Department of Health (ODH) to analyze the prevalence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in Ohio’s drinking water. Ohio’s Statewide PFAS Action Plan for Drinking Water calls for Ohio EPA to gather data from public water systems statewide to determine if PFAS are present in drinking water. Under this plan, the City of Sidney’s water system was sampled at several locations for six individual PFAS contaminants: PFOA, PFOS, GenX, PFBS, PFHxS, and PFNA. No PFAS contaminants were detected in samples collected from Sidney’s public water system. All results were below the detectable testing limit.
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of man-made chemicals applied to many consumer goods to make them waterproof, stain resistant, or nonstick. PFAS are also used in products like cosmetics, fast food packaging, and a type of firefighting foam called aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) which are used mainly on large spills of flammable liquids, such as jet fuel.
PFAS are classified as contaminants of emerging concern, meaning that research into the harm they may cause to human health is still ongoing. The most commonly studied PFAS are perfuorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), and perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA).
For more information on PFAS, including the health effects of PFAS, PFAS in drinking water, water testing and treatment, and other PFAS activities in Ohio, visit the Ohio PFAS webpage: pfas.ohio.gov. For more information on PFAS and your health, contact the ODH Health Assessment Section at BEH@odh.ohio.gov or at (614) 728-9452.