Date:
Detlef Knappe
Professor of Civil, Construction, and Environmental Engineering at NC State University
Deputy Director of NC State Superfund Center (“Environmental and Health Effects of PFAS")
Watch now | Abstract
Removal of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and 1,4-dioxane by home filters under field conditions
Abstract: The presence of unregulated contaminants in drinking water is leading to increased consumer interest in home filters, such as point-of-use (POU) and point-of-entry filters (POU). Most filters on the market have not been tested or certified for their ability to remove unregulated contaminants, such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and 1,4-dioxane. Furthermore, standard testing protocols for home filters are not designed to simulate real-world conditions, such as fluctuating contaminant concentrations. This presentation will highlight results from studies that evaluated the effectiveness of POU and POE residential drinking water filters in removing PFASs, including poorly understood fluoroethers, as well as 1,4-dioxane from tap water. For PFASs, a cross-sectional study was conducted in homes in central (n = 61) and Southeastern (n = 12) North Carolina. POU systems included various activated carbon-based filters (e.g. pitcher, refrigerator filters) and more advanced under-sink dual-stage filters and reverse osmosis filters. For 1,4-dioxane, data were collected from the 12 homes in Southeastern North Carolina and in the laboratory to simulate filter performance under variable influent concentrations.