In refrigerators and pitcher-style filtration systems, activated carbon filters typically eliminated 73 percent of PFAS pollutants, although the results varied substantially.
Do Refrigerator Filters Remove PFAS from Water?
The majority of refrigerator water filters do not sufficiently remove PFAS to make the water safe to consume. These filters can remove some PFAS, according to testing by Duke University, but treatment efficacy varies widely. They also learned that a dirty filter can actually exacerbate the issue.
When compared to untreated water, the concentration of PFAS was four times higher in the latter.
Activated carbon, which is commonly used in refrigerator water filters, is capable of removing PFAS from drinking water. However, the majority of the more than 2,000 PFAS chemicals cannot be treated by these filters, and they do not lower levels below EPA safety standards.
Why do refrigerator filters not effectively remove PFAS?
Refrigerator filters were not intended to handle PFAS-contaminated water. They are too tiny and contain insufficient activated carbon. Because of this, you shouldn’t treat your drinking water with them.
Refrigerator filters are not appropriate for handling PFAS for a number of reasons.
inadequate contact time A well-constructed carbon filter has a minimum contact time of 20 minutes. Simply put, contact time is the amount of time polluted water spends inside the filter. The effectiveness of the therapy increases with the amount of time it is in touch with the carbon. Simply put, refrigerator filters aren’t big enough to offer the required amount of contact time.
inadequate carbon. These filters also lack carbon, which is another issue. A certain amount of PFAS can only be removed by activated carbon before it stops functioning as a water purifier. When the carbon’s capacity is depleted, it stops treating the water and needs to be replaced.
No way to keep track of how they’re doing. There is no built-in indicator on refrigerator filters to let you know when they aren’t purifying your water. Because every filter eventually stops functioning and needs to be repaired by replacing the carbon, this presents one of the biggest obstacles.
Only some PFAS chemicals respond well to carbon. The activated carbon filter only removes longer-chain PFAS; it is ineffective at removing shorter-chain PFAS.
Look for water filters that are NSF P473 approved.
NSF International created a protocol called NSF P473: Drinking Water Treatment Units – PFOA and PFOS in response to worries about PFAS in drinking water and at the request of regulatory bodies. This standard was created to evaluate and accredit drinking water purification systems that can lessen PFAS pollutants.
It entails meticulous testing techniques with outcome metrics like reduction rates (amounts reduced per unit of time).
The highest requirements for PFAS reduction have been verified and met by NSF P473-certified products. You can have confidence that your water filter is working as advertised by having it certified by an impartial third party.
Some refrigerator filters cure PFAS while also removing lead. Our page on lead filters and refrigerator filters has more information.
Testing Your Drinking Water for PFAS
The SimpleLab at-home kit is for you if you are worried about PFAS in your drinking water. Everything needed is included in one convenient kit. They offer a thorough report that will aid in taking charge along with recommendations for resolving any worries or queries about the implications of the findings.
Test for PFAS with Tap Score PFAS Test Kit
Everything you require is included in the Tap Score kit from SimpleLab to test your drinking water for PFAS.
Study on PFAS Treatment at Duke University
Numerous PFAS remediation techniques were the subject of a thorough study by Duke University researchers. They took water samples from homes whose drinking supplies were tainted with fluorinated chemicals. They examined reverse osmosis and activated carbon whole-house and under-sink filters as part of this study effort. They put pitcher filters (like as Brita and PUR) to the test to determine how well they worked. Refrigerator filters were also evaluated as part of their investigation to assess how well they could eliminate PFAS.
We looked over the Duke study to assess how well different filters worked. The outcomes are displayed below.
How each brand fared in performance
The outcomes were inconsistent. Every brand fared equally well. There was a great deal of variation among the filters made by each manufacturer.
There was a wide range in treatment effectiveness overall. One GE and one Samsung filter had a 100% removal rate, whereas a Whirlpool filter had an efficiency rating of -29.5%. A negative removal, indeed!
While a Samsung device eliminated 11.5% of the PFAS, another Samsung device had a 100% efficiency rate.
Two of GE’s four filters removed the pollutants almost perfectly, but one of them only removed 30.3% of them.
Every Drop and Whirlpool filter from two different suppliers exhibited negative removal efficiency, which meant that more PFAS was exiting the filter than entering it. These findings emphasize the significance of routine carbon filter replacement.
Can PFAS be removed from all refrigerator water filters?
A few studies show that many filtering systems nowadays are effective at handling PFAS. These point-of-use filters can get rid of water residues of organic compounds.
There are three different filtration devices available right now to lower the PFAS levels in refrigerator water. Granulated activated carbon and reverse osmosis are effective filtration methods if they are both installed on the waterline for your refrigerator. In addition to water testing, it is crucial to maintain the water filtration system as needed.
The varieties of refrigerator water filters also change as technology advances in response to customer demand. It is clear that not all of these water filters can entirely eliminate PFAS. Of course, certain refrigerator water filters are capable of almost completely eliminating PFAS from drinking water. However, a lot of filters continue to be erratic and inconsistent. But are these filters potentially harmful?
Only two refrigerator filters, made by GE and Whirlpool, completely eliminated PFAS from the drinking water. Unfortunately, not every filter from GE or Whirlpool worked as well. In fact, the removal effectiveness of one Whirlpool filter was negative!
According to the Duke study, refrigerator filters are ineffective in removing PFAS from water and should not be utilized as the only water treatment method. You could use a refrigerator filter, but you would also need another form of water purification upstream to guarantee that the water is safe to drink.
ALSO SEE: Which Water Filter Pitcher Removes the Most Contaminants?
Do Samsung Refrigerator Filters Remove PFAS?
The majority of Samsung refrigerators have drinking water filters and are high-tech in design. ANSI/NSF Standards 42 and 53 have been tested against and passed by the “Waterdrop” filter. The carbon block eliminates over 99% of potentially harmful impurities, according to the Samsung website, so your family may enjoy clean filtered drinks from any brand or model of Samsung refrigerator. Samsung doesn’t assert that its filters eliminate PFAS.
According to the Duke study, the two filters examined had PFAS removal efficiency that ranged from 11.5% to 100%. Given the wide range, it is challenging to determine with certainty whether the Samsung filters work.
Using a treatment device upstream of your refrigerator to eliminate PFAS, is our recommendation. The Samsung filter can be used to enhance the flavor of your water and ice, but not to lower PFAS levels.
Do Whirlpool Refrigerator Filters Remove PFAS?
Filtration units are included with Whirlpool refrigerators. Activated carbon and a particle filter are both included in the filters, which go by the name Every Drop.
The filters, according to the Whirlpool website, are NSF-certified to remove 28 pollutants, including lead, pesticides, and medicines. For clean, fresh water, they advise replacing the water filter every six months. Whirlpool makes no PFAS treatment claims.
According to the study information we looked at, Whirlpool filters’ PFAS treatment effectiveness varies greatly. A 4-month-old filter removed 29.5% less than another filter, which removed 97% more. The treatment of drinking water for PFAS should not be done using Whirlpool filters.
Do Frigidaire Refrigerator Filters Remove PFAS?
In one sample, we found, the Frigidaire refrigerator filter eliminated 86.4% of PFAS from tap water. Despite the fact that this is a sizable reduction, it is insufficient for purifying drinking water.
To ensure that the water coming out of a Frigidaire filter is safe to drink, we advise utilizing either a reverse osmosis or an activated carbon filter.
Do GE Refrigerator Filters Remove PFAS?
Various levels of PFAS were removed from contaminated water by GE refrigerator filters. 30.3% to 100% of the subjects received treatment. The results show that the GE filter CANNOT be trusted to treat PFAS due to its high degree of variability.
To provide your family with safe drinking water, use a suitable filter device upstream of your GE refrigerator. This could be reverse osmosis or an activated carbon system. Both are very effective.
Do Amana Refrigerator Filters Remove PFAS?
EveryDrop filters are used by Amana refrigerators to treat water. The EveryDrop website states that their filters are approved to eliminate potentially dangerous elements like lead, drugs, and pesticides. They don’t imply that their filters decrease or treat PFAS in any way.
The Amana refrigerator filter test sample exhibited an overall PFAS decrease of 82.3%. Given that the input concentration was 50.8 ppt, this is impressive. The treated water still had a total PFAS level of 9 ppt despite the substantial reduction. Amana refrigerator filters should not be used to clean tainted water since they are not rated to treat PFAS.
Do Bosch Refrigerator Filters Remove PFAS?
Duke found that the sole Bosch refrigerator filter tested reduced PFAS by 93.1%. This is just remarkable. However, there were 3 ppt of fluorinated chemicals in the treated water. To handle PFAS, one should not use Bosch refrigerator filters.
Do LG Refrigerator Filters Remove PFAS?
According to LG, utilizing their refrigerator water filters would result in water that tastes better. To reduce contaminants in drinking water, their filters have undergone NSF testing and certification. No health or medical claims made there refer to PFAS.
According to the Duke study, the LG filter had a 98.6% effectiveness rate and reduced the amount of PFAS in the treated water to 0.2 ppt. This is below the 1 ppt minimum PFAS drinking water standard that is advised.
What Can I Do to Get Rid of PFAS in My Water?
The most effective option for purifying PFAS-contaminated water in your household is often a reverse osmosis system. Consumer Reports’ testing revealed that these filters can cut down GenX and other PFAS by at least 94%. To purify your drinking water, you can discover under-sink and whole-house RO filters. Both approaches are quite effective.
Activated carbon is a treatment method that also effectively removes PFAS. PFAS can be reduced by up to 95% using carbon filters. They additionally offer the advantage of eliminating other impurities including fluoride, arsenic, and chlorine.