Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Paired House Dust and Tap Water from United States Homes

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Overview

House dust acts as an aggregate of chemicals in residential spaces and can be an important human exposure pathway for compounds such as per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS). The composition and levels of PFAS in house dust can be a function of the home’s proximity to point sources and/or the materials and products within it. PFAS in house dust may also be affected by tap water contamination, as this water may be used for household activities like cleaning and showering. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funded and conducted a survey of residential hazards called the American Healthy Homes Survey II in 2017. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) collaborated on this effort and analyzed PFAS in house dust and tap water samples. Here we report results for 241 paired house dust and tap water samples from homes in 37 states. In house dust, 16 PFAS were measured with detection rates ranging from 97% (PFOA) to 9% (PFNS); in tap water, 13 PFAS were measured with detections ranging from 100% (PFBS) to 1% (PFNS). Four chemicals (PFOA, PFOS, PFHxS, PFHpA) were detected in at least 50% of the samples in both house dust and tap water. Correlations between paired house dust and tap water concentrations and geographic proximity to potential sources are analyzed to investigate possible links between PFAS in both media.

Impact/Purpose

House dust can be an aggregate of harmful chemicals present in residential environments and an important human exposure route for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The composition of PFAS chemicals in house dust can be a function of the home’s proximity to point sources or different household materials (i.e., consumer products, furnishings, carpeting, cookware, clothing, and cleaning products) in the home. In addition to potential PFAS exposure from the drinking of household water, it has also been hypothesized that PFAS in household water could contribute to house dust concentrations and subsequent exposures through use of this water for household activities like cleaning and showering. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) conducted the first survey of residential hazards called the American Healthy Homes Survey (AHHS) in 2005, which was followed by a second survey (AHHS II) in 2017. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) collaborated with HUD on both these efforts and subsequently analyzed PFAS in house dust and household water collected during the AHHS II study.

Citation

DeLuca, N., J. Boettger, J. Minucci, K. Miller, K. Bradham, J. McCord, P. Ashley, W. Friedman, E. Pinzer, AND E. Hubal. Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Paired House Dust and Tap Water from United States Homes. International Society of Exposure Science (ISES), Chicago, IL, August 27 - 31, 2023.