The Massachusetts Department of Public Health has issued a warning about PFAS found in various brands of bottled water that are available to consumers at local Whole Foods and CVS stores in the state. The Department asks that pregnant women refrain from ingesting the bottled water until it is deemed safe to consume.
PFAS, known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, have gained the label ‘forever chemicals’ due to their long-lasting prevalence in the environment. This means they also have a long lifespan if consumed and can have detrimental effects on the body including cancer, liver damage, and developmental problems.
The advisory released in July by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health warns the public of bottled water sourced from Spring Hill Farm Dairy in Haverhill, MA. Although the levels detected in the water did not exceed the safety threshold set by Massachusetts or the EPA, the state still issued the warning in the interest of pregnant or breastfeeding women and bottle-fed infants who could more sensitive to the presence of these contaminants.
The products detected for PFAS include 365 Spring Water and Ice Canyon Spring Water, found at Whole Foods and CVS, respectively. Spring Hill has stated it will utilize a new filtration system to remove PFAS by July 24, 2019.
