New tool can remove 99% of a ‘forever chemical’ from water

Your tap water’s dirty little secret might have just met its match.

Scientists have engineered a high-tech filter that strips toxic “forever chemicals” from drinking water in a matter of minutes.

Better yet, the new tool glows on contact with contamination, serving as both a purifier and an real-time monitoring system.

Forever chemicals — officially known as per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) — are tiny, man-made compounds that break down very slowly and accumulate in people, animals and the environment over time.

They’ve been used since the 1940s in everything from non-stick cookware and grease-resistant food packaging to waterproof fabrics and personal care products.

But concerns are mounting over the potential health effects of PFAS, with some experts likening them to “slow poison.”

One of the most widely used forever chemicals, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), has been linked to higher risks of certain cancers, liver damage, immune system issues, high cholesterol and even developmental delays in fetuses and children.

It has been detected across a range of environments and products — from soil and rainfall to seafood, human blood and drinking water.

In fact, a 2020 study estimated that more than 200 million Americans are drinking water contaminated with PFOA or PFOS, another notorious forever chemical formally known as perfluorooctane sulfonate.

Now, researchers at the University of Utah may have found a way to help reduce that exposure.

The scientists recently developed a lab-engineered, crystalline substance known as a metal-organic framework (MOF) that functions like a molecular sieve.

When water flows through the material, it snags and traps PFOA molecules, effectively removing the forever chemical.

In lab tests, the MOF cleared out more than 99% of the toxic substance in just five minutes.

“This sort of rapid treatment is crucial for real-world applications,” the study authors wrote in their report.

The material also worked in the presence of other PFAS compounds, salts, and natural organic matter found in drinking water supplies, suggesting it could perform well in a variety of real-world environmental conditions.

Better yet, the MOF can be reused, with researchers finding it retained 93% of its adsorption efficiency after five wash cycles.

That’s a big deal, since current methods for removing PFAS are often slow, costly, inefficient and don’t hold up well after repeated use.

An added bonus: when PFOA molecules bind to the material, it glows fluorescent — providing instant, on-the-spot confirmation of contamination.

“This MOF represents a major leap forward for PFAS remediation,” Rana Dalapati, the study’s lead author, said in a statement. 

“Its ability to both selectively capture and sensitively detect PFOA in real time makes it a versatile and practical solution for water treatment and environmental monitoring,” she added. 

Looking ahead, the team believes this material could one day be adapted to capture other PFAS chemicals, not just PFOA.

Wondering if you should be concerned about forever chemicals in your drinking water? The Environmental Working Group’s Tap Water Database is a good place to start — just enter your ZIP code to see what’s in your local supply.

While the newly developed MOF may one day offer a powerful solution, it will likely be a while before it’s available for public use. In the meantime, if you live in an area with known PFAS contamination, consider getting a water filter.

Look for one certified by the National Sanitation Foundation to reduce levels of PFOA and PFOS to help limit your exposure.