PFAS, Arsenic & Lead (A Quick Overview of Emerging Contaminates)
Kelly Thompson of Moti-Vitality has worked in water purification for 27 years. He earned a college degree in education and theatre and also served as a Navy Seabee. He intended to become a High School Theatre teacher. He realized that he didn't enjoy teaching and took a temporary job with a water softener company.
What was supposed to be a temporary job turned out to be an industry that he enjoys. He is a member of the Water Quality Association that regularly advises governments on water issues. Water treatment and distribution systems in this country are very old and costly to upgrade. Our ability to measure contaminants has been increasing along with our awareness of the damage to human health. Before the problems in Flint, there were no standards for acceptable lead levels in municipal water.
Lead is a large molecule compared to the other contaminants. Arsenic is measured in parts per billion (ppb) and PFAS in parts per trillion (ppt). As little as 4 ppt of PFAS is carcinogenic. When Arsenic was first measured in the US, it was found as high as 50 ppb. Other developed countries had regulations that required less than 10 ppb. 99.9% of the population have measurable PFAS, plastics, and other contaminants in their bodies.
Water systems generally treat the water at the point of entry before the water goes through the distribution pipes and home plumbing. Only about 1% of water is used for drinking, so treating water at the point of use can be an effective method to safeguard the population until the water system can be upgraded. This involves placing filters in homes and other places.