While per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been around for decades, public knowledge of this class of manmade chemicals and their negative health effects is still emerging. Although PFAS have been gaining much more exposure in the news, there are currently no federal or Virginia regulations that set a limit on the amount of PFAS allowed in our drinking water.  

PFAS hang around the environment for a long time before being broken down, earning the nickname “forever chemicals”.  Because of their strong carbon-fluorine bonds, PFAS are attractive for applications that require fire-resistance or the ability to repel oil, grease and water. They are commonly used in firefighting foams, nonstick cookware, stain-repellent carpeting, water-repellent clothing and food packaging. Once introduced into our environment through these products, PFAS chemicals can leach into the water and soil, making their way into food and into the body. This is particularly concerning for fence line neighborhoods near industrial sites, landfills and airports or military bases, placing low-income communities and communities of color disproportionately at risk. 

Health effects linked to PFAS include cancer, preeclampsia, increased cholesterol, decreased vaccine response, reduced resistance to infectious diseases and liver issues. The persistent nature of PFAS prevents them from decomposing in the environment or the body, and they can bioaccumulate over time. A report by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found PFAS in the blood of 97 percent of those tested. 

In 2020, The James River Association (JRA) started a campaign to protect Virginians and our waterways from PFAS contamination, helping pass legislation directing Virginia’s Department of Health (VDH) to begin testing public drinking water sources for contamination and set drinking water standards for at least two types of PFAS and two other chemical contaminants of concern. Over the course of 2021, JRA participated in the workgroup convened by VDH to conduct the drinking water study. 

Fifteen of the 63 water samples collected during the study positively identified the presence of PFAS, some at levels that exceed new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) interim healthy advisory levels. Recent testing of private wells near Henrico County’s White Oak Swamp Creek identified 30 wells where PFAS were present above the interim health advisory level. These findings show that more investigation and testing is warranted. Health advisories are not binding, but they do provide useful information for public health and drinking water officials to use to ensure the chemicals in our water are kept below a level at which adverse health effects may occur. The EPA plans to propose new drinking water safety standards for two types of PFAS later this year. 

JRA is continuing to take action to assess and address the risk of PFAS contamination in our watershed, but needs help from the community. Join the JRA Action Network to stay in the loop regarding opportunities to contact legislators about supporting funding for PFAS studies or become a RiverRep to receive training on how to raise a voice to protect the river. 

For more information, visit TheJamesRiver.org/what-you-can-do/advocate. 

Anna Killius is the director of advocacy and Erin Reilly is the senior staff scientist for the James River Association.