Understanding PFAS in New Jersey
PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a large group of man-made chemicals that have been used for decades in products designed to resist heat, water, oil, and stains. They are found in everyday items such as nonstick cookware like Teflon pans, stain-resistant treatments like Scotchgard, waterproof rain jackets, and grease-resistant food packaging like takeout containers and fast-food wrappers.
Often referred to as “forever chemicals,” PFAS are known for their extreme persistence in the environment. They do not break down easily and can accumulate over time in soil, water, wildlife, and even the human body. Biochemists have detected these compounds in 97 percent of people in the United States. Researchers suggest that exposure may be linked to a range of health concerns, including disruption of the immune system, developmental and fertility problems, liver damage, and several types of cancer.
What the data shows
New Jersey’s industrial history has led to PFAs becoming a major drinking water concern.
New Jersey has taken a leading role in addressing PFAS contamination. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) has established some of the strictest drinking water standards in the country, setting enforceable Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) for certain PFAS compounds including PFOA, PFOS, and PFNA. The state has also added these chemicals to its list of hazardous substances, required expanded testing under the Private Well Testing Act and strengthened discharge limits through the New Jersey Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NJPDES) permitting program. In addition, laws such as the 2022 ban on PFAS-containing firefighting foam have helped reduce new sources of contamination.
To understand where PFAS contamination may be present across the state, New Jersey has developed a public mapping and data tool that tracks testing results in drinking water systems. This interactive map compiles monitoring results from water systems and shows where PFAS have been detected, including levels of specific compounds such as PFOA and PFOS. Click Maps & Data here to check your water quality now.
What you can do to reduce PFAS exposure
While regulation and treatment improvements continue, residents can take practical steps to reduce exposure at home:
1. Use certified water filters
Look for filters certified to reduce PFAS (such as NSF/ANSI certified reverse osmosis systems or activated carbon filters). Not all pitchers or filters remove PFAS, so certification matters.
2. Check your local water report
Use your municipal annual water quality report or the NJ PFAS mapping tool to understand what has been detected in your system.3. Avoid additional sources when possible
PFAS can also be found in nonstick cookware, stain-resistant fabrics, and certain food packaging. Reducing these where practical can lower overall exposure.
Sources:
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. (2021). Toxicological profile for perfluoroalkyls. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp200.pdf
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) factsheet. https://www.cdc.gov/pfas/
National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. (2022). Guidance on PFAS exposure, testing, and clinical follow-up. The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/26156
PFAS in New Jersey. (n.d.). Maps & data. https://njpfas.org/maps-data/U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2024). PFAS explained. https://www.epa.gov/pfas
