Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)

We work with the Department of Health — along with industry and environmental stakeholders and community organizations — to identify and take actions to phase out the use, release, and exposure to PFAS in Washington. To guide this work, we developed a chemical action plan, which recommends actions to address PFAS.

PFAS are found in a wide variety of personal, consumer, and industrial products.

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What are PFAS compounds?

PFAS are a large group of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances. These manufactured chemicals never disappear from the environment, which is why they are called “forever chemicals.” Some of them build up in people and the environment.

They are used in:

Common consumer products to make them oil- and water-resistant.
Industrial applications, like firefighting foams, namely AFFF (aqueous film-forming foam).

How does PFAS get into the environment?

PFAS are water soluble and highly mobile. They can easily contaminate groundwater and can be hard to filter out. Since these substances don’t break down naturally, our exposure to PFAS could continue for hundreds or thousands of years.

What are PFAS? They are “forever chemicals” contaminating drinking water, found in the blood of nearly every American.

43 states have PFAS-contaminated drinking water, affecting 19 million people.
PFAS in firefighting foam (also known as AFFF) is the suspected source of most PFAS-contaminated drinking water in Washington.
Almost 100% of Americans have some type of PFAS in their blood.

In Washington, even though PFAS compounds are not manufactured here, they are released into the environment through consumer and industrial products.

PFAS contamination has been found in drinking water wells above EPA's health advisory levels in:

Airway Heights.
North Whidbey Island.
Issaquah.
Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM).
Vancouver.
Yakima Training Center.
Fairchild Airforce Base.
Bangor Naval Base.

What products contain PFAS?

Typical consumer products that can contain PFAS chemicals, such as carpets, non-stick cookware, and waterproof apparel.

The following are examples of consumer and industrial products that can contain PFAS:

Stain- and water-resistant textiles (outdoor and upholstered furniture, carpets, and clothing)
Nonstick cookware
Waterproof apparel (shoes, clothing, upholstery, and mattresses)
Cleaning products, paints, and sealers that penetrate into rough surfaces or promote a smooth finish
Firefighting foam used to fight fuel-based fires
Grease and waterproof coatings on food packaging (such as popcorn bags, fast food wrappers, and takeout containers)
Coated paper products
Engineered coatings used in semiconductor production
Surfaces in food processing equipment (such as tubing in ice cream and soda dispensers)

How can you reduce your exposure to PFAS?

Watch our video, "How to reduce your exposure to PFAS" on YouTube, to learn how.

Frequently asked questions

2021: Issued the Final PFAS Chemical Action Plan recommendations. The plan incorporates feedback from stakeholders and the public, and will guide future actions to address PFAS in Washington.

2020: Issued PFAS Draft Chemical Action Plan recommendations. The plan incorporates new information related to PFAS activities in Washington and recommends actions to reduce the impacts of PFAS in our state.

2019: Issued preliminary PFAS Chemical Action Plan recommendations.

2018: In partnership with the Department of Health, published the Interim PFAS Chemical Action Plan. The plan included protective actions from two new laws related to the use of PFAS-containing firefighting foam and an analysis of food packaging:

RCW 70A.400 concerns toxics in firefighting, specifically PFAS-containing class B firefighting foam and firefighting personal protective equipment.
RCW 70A.222 concerns PFAS in food packaging,

2017: Updated the Children’s Safe Products Reporting Rule adding PFOA to the list of chemicals of high concern to children. When originally adopted in 2011, the list of chemicals of high concern to children included PFOS.

2016: Conducted a follow-up study on PFAS in rivers and lakes.

2008: Conducted a study to assess PFAS in rivers and lakes in Washington.

2006: Adopted Persistent, Bioaccumulative, and Toxics Rule listing PFOS and its salts as persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic chemicals.

To learn more about PFAS, visit these resources:

Most PFAS research has been done on two specific compounds: perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and a related compound, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). The toxicity of other PFAS compounds varies. Studies in animals show that exposure to some PFAS can affect liver function, reproductive hormones, development of offspring, and mortality.

Although nearly all of us are exposed to PFAS, their toxicity in humans is not completely understood. Experts investigating the effects on people have found probable links to immune system toxicity, high cholesterol, reproductive and developmental issues, endocrine system disruption, ulcerative colitis, thyroid issues, certain cancers, and pregnancy-induced hypertension.

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We offer free language services about our programs and services for people whose primary language is not English. We can provide written information in your preferred language and interpreters in person or over the telephone.

Contact our Language Access team: civilrights@ecy.wa.gov

Contact information

Cheryl Niemi
Senior Toxics Reduction Planner
cheryl.niemi@ecy.wa.gov
360-338-2913

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