Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA)
Status: No national drinking water standard exists
Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA) is a member of a group of perfluorinated chemicals used in many consumer products. PFHpA and other perfluorinated chemicals can cause serious health effects, including cancer, endocrine disruption, accelerated puberty, liver and immune system damage, and thyroid changes. These chemicals are persistent in the environment and they accumulate in people. Click here to read more about perfluorinated chemicals.
2017-2019:
1
states detected
10
utilities detected
33,477
people served
0
states over health guideline
0
utilities over health guideline
0
people served over health guideline
Health concerns for PFHpA
Cancer
Harm to the immune system
Hormone disruption
Harm to fetal growth and child development
Harm to the liver
State and national drinking water standards and health guidelines
EWG Health Guideline 1 ppt
The EWG Health Guideline of 1 ppt for PFHpA was defined by EWG as based on studies by Phillipe Grandjean of Harvard University and many other independent researchers who found reduced effectiveness of vaccines and adverse impacts on mammary gland development from exposure to PFOA and PFOS, the two PFAS most widely detected in drinking water. This health guideline protects against applies to the entire class of PFAS detected in water.
ppt = parts per trillion
States reporting PFHpA in drinking water
| UTILITIES WITH CONTAMINATION | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| State | Utilities | People Served | |
| New Hampshire | 10 | 33,477 | |
Filtering technologies that reduce PFHpA
Activated Carbon
Reverse Osmosis
Utilities with the highest amounts of PFHpA, 2017-2019
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prolyn Townhouse Apartments | Pelham, NH | 2 of 2 | 4.65 ppt | 123 |
| Cabot Preserve | Merrimack, NH | 201 of 314 | 2.86 ppt | 955 |
| Merrimack Village District* | Merrimack, NH | 201 of 314 | 2.86 ppt | 25,000 |
| Windham Terrace | Merrimack, NH | 2 of 2 | 2.50 ppt | 110 |
| Colonial Poplin Nursing Home | Fremont, NH | 1 of 1 | 2.00 ppt | 78 |
| Stratham Green Condos | Stratham, NH | 2 of 3 | 1.82 ppt | 150 |
| Chandler Place Apts | Salem, NH | 1 of 3 | 0.847 ppt | 38 |
| Hampstead Area Water | Atkinson, NH | 7 of 10 | 0.776 ppt | 2,838 |
| Water Wheel Estates | Derry, NH | 2 of 2 | 0.355 ppt | 85 |
| Rye Water District | Rye, NH | 1 of 15 | 0.133 ppt | 4,100 |
* This water utility supplies finished drinking water to at least one other water utility. The purchasing utility is not required to test for or report Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA) , but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.
| Utility | Location | Tests | Average level | People served |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merrimack Village District* | Merrimack, NH | 201 of 314 | 2.86 ppt | 25,000 |
* This water utility supplies finished drinking water to at least one other water utility. The purchasing utility is not required to test for or report Perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA) , but it likely has the contaminant in its water supply.