Since their development by Dupont in the 1930s and subsequent widespread manufacturing by 3M in the 1950s, Polyfluroalkyl substances (PFAS) – commonly known as forever chemicals – have raised significant concerns due to the alarming consequences associated with the accumulation of these chemicals in the human body. Notably, exposure to specific PFAS compounds has been linked to severe health risks, including cancer, immune suppression, diabetes, and detrimental effects on infant birth weight.
These concerns are further compounded by the potential pathways through which PFAS chemicals can enter our environment. For example, factories that utilize PFAS in their manufacturing processes contribute to the release of these hazardous substances into the air and water. Furthermore, landfill leachate also plays a role in the dissemination of PFAS. As a result, individuals can be exposed to these harmful chemicals through multiple routes, including the consumption of contaminated drinking water, ingestion of fish or plants grown in PFAS-contaminated soil, and even through the consumption of food packaged with materials containing PFAS.
In response to mounting concerns surrounding PFAS, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recently proposed new requirements to establish stringent limits for these contaminants in drinking water, underscoring the growing concerns regarding the widespread presence of PFAS in numerous products (non-stick frying pans, fast-food wrappers, stain-resistant fabrics, firefighting foams, …). Specifically, the EPA’s draft drinking water rules focus on six specific compounds that do not degrade under normal environmental conditions.
However, addressing this problem poses a significant challenge as many water treatment facilities lack the necessary equipment to accomplish two critical objectives: accurately testing water for the presence of PFAS and effectively eliminating these hazardous chemicals.
Waters Corp. has emerged as a trusted partner for water treatment facilities aiming to strengthen their testing for these harmful chemicals. Leveraging its advanced mass spectrometry testing equipment, the company offers a solution for precise and dependable detection of PFAS compounds in water sources.
When it comes to the elimination of PFAS, various technologies come into play. Processes that make use of ion absorbent materials like carbon or reverse osmosis filtration are essential for efficient removal. Regarding the latter process, Energy Recovery, which specializes in pressure exchanger technologies for reverse osmosis aimed at desalination, could benefit from the emergence of a new end market should reverse osmosis become a preferred solution for the effective removal of PFAS compounds from water sources.
Xylem is another notable player in this field thanks to the recent acquisition of Evoqua, offering comprehensive PFAS removal solutions for municipal drinking water producers and industrial wastewater treatment utilities, notably through ion exchange technologies.
Similarly, Tetra Tech has designed some of the largest ion exchange plants in the US for PFAS removal, thanks to their expertise within ion exchange technology. Combining consulting, testing, and remediation services, Montrose Environmental is another company implementing a comprehensive PFAS-contaminated water business strategy.
In conclusion, we expect the demand for advanced PFAS testing and elimination technologies to soar amidst proposed stringent limits by regulatory bodies, with some forecasts projecting the market to rapidly reach total expenditures of $200 billion. Importantly, the US administration has taken notice of the massive investments utilities will need to undertake to comply with the new regulations and has announced the availability of $2 billion funding for communities.
