A wastewater treatment plant asked the rapid response question: what could be contributing to Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (or PFAS) contamination in car wash water? There are at least three cases of municipalities around the country detecting PFAS contamination in groundwater wells on or near a car wash facility.
There are over 9,000 PFAS compounds (aka “forever chemicals”), and some have been found to be extremely persistent, bioaccumulative and toxic to humans and wildlife.
PFAS have been used in various industrial and consumer products since the 1940s. These substances are known for their resistance to heat, water, and oil, making them useful in applications such as non-stick cookware, stain-resistant fabrics, fume suppressants in plating operations, paper coatings, protective coatings on furniture, carpets, and vehicles, and in firefighting.
It is a challenge to identify PFAS in products for various reasons, including but not limited to:
Non-disclosure by manufacturers, claiming confidential business information (e.g., trade secrets);
Lack of PFAS ingredient listings on the product SDS (Section 3, Composition) possibly because the concentration falls under the threshold required for inclusion or the manufacturer may assume that the compound is not hazardous and therefore does not need to be listed; or,
Limited individual product testing.
This rapid response research intends to find potential sources of PFAS that could be contributing to car wash water contamination and identify possible alternatives that are safer for human health and the environment.