Reducing your exposure to PFAS
Exposure pathways are the ways people can come into contact with a contaminant like PFAS. People can be exposed to PFAS through a variety of exposure pathways, including PFAS-contaminated drinking and cooking water, food, and consumer products.
Research shows that when drinking water is contaminated with PFAS above EPA’s maximum contaminant levels (MCLs), it is likely to be people’s biggest source of PFAS exposure. We also know that diet can be an important source in some communities.
The good news is you can take steps to reduce your exposure to PFAS! We understand it may be a challenge to reduce your exposure from all pathways, and we know that some pathways are more likely to increase the amount of PFAS in your body than others. By taking action in the order listed below, you can maximize the impact of your efforts to reduce PFAS exposure.
Find out the PFAS levels in your water:
Consider at-home filtration or finding an alternate source of drinking water
If you are concerned about PFAS levels in your drinking water, you can reduce exposure by using at-home water filters or using an alternate source of water for drinking and cooking.
- There are many types and brands of at-home water filters, but they haven’t all been certified to remove PFAS. Look for manufacturers that have demonstrated the water filter can remove PFAS to non-detectable levels. Filters that meet National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) standards, such as NSF/ANSI 53 and 58, are lab-tested and certified to remove PFAS. Examples to consider include:
- Purefast Pitcher Filter Cartridge
- Clean Water Machine - countertop filter
- Hydroviv under the sink filter
- Various refrigerator filters are certified to remove PFAS
- PFAS Point-Of-Use Filter Options from the Washington State Department of Health
- Look for bottled water that has been treated with reverse osmosis. CDPHE cannot verify that all bottled water is below EPA’s drinking water standards for PFAS. Reverse osmosis is a treatment that removes PFAS, so we suggest choosing a brand that includes this information on the label.
- Treating water with reverse osmosis removes fluoride, and bottled water usually does not contain it. If you choose bottled or treated water, talk to your dentist about other ways to get fluoride to protect oral health.
- Consider using bottled water only on a short-term basis, as the extra plastic from bottled water negatively impacts the environment.
If you choose to use alternate water to lower your exposure to PFAS:
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- There are many important benefits to eating fish and the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) recommends eating 2-3 servings of fish per week as part of a healthy diet. However, some fish contain contaminants, like PFAS and mercury. You can make choices to reduce your exposure while still gaining the benefits of eating fish.
- Many studies have found that eating fish is the biggest source of PFAS exposure in diet. Freshwater fish tend to have greater PFAS than saltwater fish, and fish caught in urban areas generally have higher levels of PFAS. You can avoid eating fish caught near areas of known contamination. Visit Colorado’s PFAS map series to learn about PFAS sampling results across the state and visit the Fish Consumption Dashboard to follow recommendations for consuming fish for the general public and sensitive populations.
- Fruits and vegetables grown with PFAS-contaminated soil or water may absorb some of the chemicals.
- If you know your water is contaminated, eating less of the produce you grow can help you reduce your exposure to PFAS. Some studies show leafy vegetables (such as lettuce and kale) and root crops (such as potatoes and carrots) take up more PFAS than fruits (such as tomatoes and strawberries).
- To lower the amount of PFAS in your homegrown food, use filtered water for your garden.
- If your backyard chickens’ food or water is contaminated with PFAS, their eggs can have PFAS too. If your water contains PFAS at levels above EPA’s MCLs, use filtered water for your chickens to drink.
- Visit our web page on homegrown produce near areas of known contamination.
- PFAS can also be found in greaseproof paper food packaging and certain kinds of cookware, which can lead to exposure through cooking and food contact.
- However, the FDA announced in 2024 that PFAS-containing food packaging is no longer being sold in the US.
- People can also be exposed to PFAS through consumer products that contain these chemicals. Though these products are a much smaller source of exposure to PFAS, reducing their use can help both people and the environment.
- In 2022 and 2024, Colorado passed bans on “intentionally added” PFAS in certain consumer products, which will be phased in from 2024 to 2030. In the meantime, you may want to consider reducing your use of products that contain PFAS.
- PFAS may be in cleaning products, stain-resistant carpets and upholstery, stain-resistant treatments, waterproofing sprays, non-stick cookware, ski wax, food wrappings, microwave popcorn bags, and personal care products.
- Avoid products that contain "PAP" (polyfluoroalkyl phosphate esters) or “PTFE” (polytetrafluoroethylene) and ingredients that include the words “fluoro” or “perfluoro.”
- Read the labels to identify these chemicals. A “green” label does not assure that a product is free of PFAS.
- Ask retailers and restaurants if their wrappings are PFAS-free.
More resources:
- The FDA is the agency responsible for food safety. The FDA recently found that most foods they tested in the general food supply had PFAS levels below the level the lab could detect. The FDA can issue recalls if elevated PFAS levels are found.
- Some foods grown in contaminated areas, and fish caught near contamination sources, may have higher levels of PFAS.
- To learn about PFAS in food, visit the FDA’s question and answer webpage.
Currently, scientists don’t have a lot of information about how exposure to PFAS might affect pet health. If you are concerned, give your pets alternate or filtered water to drink.