Assessing PFAS Exposure Through Drinking Water in Appalachia: A Systematic Review of Evidence
Abstract
Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly known as forever chemicals, are persistent chemical compounds frequently found in drinking water sources. Exposure to PFAS causes serious public health issues such as cancer, fertility problems, and liver disease. A limited number of studies have investigated the presence of PFAS in drinking water in Appalachia. This study aims to analyze PFAS exposure through drinking water in Appalachia, a region of thirteen states with a long history of water quality violations. This study investigates the extent of PFAS contamination in drinking water sources and the factors contributing to PFAS presence. We hypothesize that PFAS compounds in drinking water would exceed the USEPA’s Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL), increasing exposure risk. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis using the PRISMA Framework. We gathered articles from three databases (Web of Science, PubMed, and Scopus), removed duplicates, and screened the remaining 259 articles for relevance. Only 18 papers met the inclusion criteria and were then used for qualitative analysis. North Carolina had the most papers (i.e., 7), Kentucky and Alabama had only one paper, and none in Tennessee. Most articles (n=6) focused on well water sources, whereas a few (n=2) focused on utility water. PFAS compounds such as PFOA and PFOS had the highest detection frequency in most papers, with only a few articles (n=6) recording USEPA MCL violations in their concentrations. Furthermore, the use of filters had a significant effect on PFAS reduction. These findings highlight the extent of PFAS contamination in drinking water in the Appalachian region and the need to understand factors contributing to PFAS presence in drinking water sources. Additionally, the findings underscore the need for more research on PFAS in drinking water in states like Tennessee and identifying areas within the region that need robust water treatment procedures.
Start Time
16-4-2025 1:30 PM
End Time
16-4-2025 4:00 PM
Presentation Type
Poster
Presentation Category
Health
Student Type
Graduate Student - Masters
Faculty Mentor
Md Rasheduzzaman
Faculty Department
Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety Sciences
Assessing PFAS Exposure Through Drinking Water in Appalachia: A Systematic Review of Evidence
Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly known as forever chemicals, are persistent chemical compounds frequently found in drinking water sources. Exposure to PFAS causes serious public health issues such as cancer, fertility problems, and liver disease. A limited number of studies have investigated the presence of PFAS in drinking water in Appalachia. This study aims to analyze PFAS exposure through drinking water in Appalachia, a region of thirteen states with a long history of water quality violations. This study investigates the extent of PFAS contamination in drinking water sources and the factors contributing to PFAS presence. We hypothesize that PFAS compounds in drinking water would exceed the USEPA’s Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL), increasing exposure risk. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis using the PRISMA Framework. We gathered articles from three databases (Web of Science, PubMed, and Scopus), removed duplicates, and screened the remaining 259 articles for relevance. Only 18 papers met the inclusion criteria and were then used for qualitative analysis. North Carolina had the most papers (i.e., 7), Kentucky and Alabama had only one paper, and none in Tennessee. Most articles (n=6) focused on well water sources, whereas a few (n=2) focused on utility water. PFAS compounds such as PFOA and PFOS had the highest detection frequency in most papers, with only a few articles (n=6) recording USEPA MCL violations in their concentrations. Furthermore, the use of filters had a significant effect on PFAS reduction. These findings highlight the extent of PFAS contamination in drinking water in the Appalachian region and the need to understand factors contributing to PFAS presence in drinking water sources. Additionally, the findings underscore the need for more research on PFAS in drinking water in states like Tennessee and identifying areas within the region that need robust water treatment procedures.