In an article in the Denver Post headlined “Colorado ramps up response to toxic ‘forever chemicals’ after discovery of hot spots across metro Denver”, the director of environmental programs for Colorado’s health department is quoted saying: “My top priority is to break the chain of exposure. Find where it is. Stop people from ingesting it.”
He is talking about PFAS drinking water contamination. Colorado is the latest state to uncover high levels of the chemicals in its water—with the Post reporting more than 100,000 people have been served by public drinking water systems where elevated PFAS levels have been detected in source wells. In addition, the state is still trying to figure out how many people may have been exposed to contaminated drinking water through private wells.
In the Denver metro area, groundwater tests over the past year have found PFAS contamination more than 2,500 times the suggested federal health advisory limit. Contamination has also been found in areas near Boulder and Colorado Springs.
In response to this issue Colorado has developed an emerging action plan that includes setting a state limit level for PFAS, increasing the state’s ability to test water for PFAS (samples currently have to be sent out of state), and monitoring and decreasing the use of firefighting foams.
The Denver Post article refers to PFAS as “forever chemicals” because it has been noted that these chemicals do not break down naturally in the environment or the human body. There are home water filtration systems that can help remove PFOA/PFOS from water.
