Per-Fluorinated Alkyl Substances (PFAS) in drinking water in Israel: survey results and regulatory updates

Luda Groisman, National Public Health Laboratory, Ministry of Health, Tel Aviv, Israel (luda.groisman@phlta.health.gov.il)
Tamar Berman, Environmental Health Department, Ministry Of Health, Jerusalem, Israel
Irit Hen, Environmental Health Department, Ministry Of Health, Jerusalem, Israel
Atar Adout Hawlena, Environmental Health Department, Ministry Of Health, Jerusalem, Israel
Alla Nasonov, National Public Health Laboratory, Ministry Of Health, Tel Aviv, Israel
Elena Rabinovich, National Public Health Laboratory, Ministry Of Health, Tel Aviv, Israel
Efrat Rorman, Laboratory Department, Ministry Of Health, Jerusalem, Israel

 

Per-Fluorinated Alkyl Substances (PFAS) are on the agenda of the environmental health scientific community and regulatory authorities (including Israel) as epidemiological studies have revealed that exposure to PFAS is associated with a range of adverse health effects: exposure to low levels of PFAS may lead to decreased fertility, developmental effects in children, increased risk of some cancers etc. (https://www.epa.gov/pfas/pfas-explained).

 PFAS are large, complex group of chemicals widely used in many industries and products (food packaging and utensils, personal care products, oil, stain and water resistance coatings, paints, varnishes, cleaning agents, fire-extinguishing foam etc.).  Due to their widespread use and their persistence in the environment, PFAS components are found in environmental samples (water, soil, food commodities) globally, in human biological samples, and in animals.

Following a Water Authority survey showing PFAS groundwater contamination in several hotspots in Israel, the Ministry of Health conducted two surveys in which almost 40% of active drinking water wells were tested.

An analytical method was developed at the National Public Health Laboratory. The method includes 9 PFAS in the Canadian Drinking Water Standards, with Limits of Quantification 5-10 ng/L.

PFAS compounds were detected in over 10% of tested drinking water wells; drinking water supply was discontinued from several wells with high levels of PFAS.   

The Ministry of Health published guidelines for ongoing monitoring of PFAS in drinking water and is currently updating the Drinking Water Standards to include PFAS.

The updated Standards will adopt the European Directive on the quality of water intended for human consumption, and will include 20 PFAS, with a maximum value of 100 ng/L (sum of PFAS). The Ministry of Health and the Drinking Water Advisory Committee continue to monitor regulatory developments worldwide related to PFAS in drinking water.  

Results, analytical methods and regulatory updates will be further presented.