PFAS in Drinking Water: Basics, Risks and Testing
PFAS in drinking water are becoming a growing concern in Switzerland and around the world. These persistent chemicals are used in everyday products, industrial processes and can also be found in water supplies. But what exactly are PFAS, why are they considered problematic and how can you test your water for PFAS?
PFAS in drinking water is no longer just a theoretical issue – measurements already show contamination in several regions of Switzerland. Here you will learn what PFAS are, where they occur, what health risks are discussed and how PFAS water testing works.
What are PFAS?
PFAS stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. This is a group of more than 10,000 synthetic chemicals used in industry since the 1940s. PFAS are often called “forever chemicals” because they break down only very slowly in the environment.
Their chemical uniqueness lies in the extremely strong bond between carbon and fluorine atoms. This stability makes PFAS useful in many products, but also problematic for the environment and human health.
Why are PFAS a concern?
PFAS remain in soil, water and living organisms for a very long time. Once released, they can accumulate in the environment and in the human body. This is why PFAS are increasingly monitored by researchers, regulators and drinking water laboratories.
Learn more about chemical persistence
PFAS in drinking water
PFAS can enter drinking water through industrial emissions, firefighting foams, landfill leachate and contaminated soil or groundwater. Because they are highly persistent and mobile, they can remain detectable for long periods.
If you want clarity about your water quality, laboratory testing is the most reliable way to identify PFAS contamination.
Start now with our comprehensive water test to detect chemical and bacterial risks at an early stage.
✔ Heavy metals and contaminants
✔ Separate bacteria test recommended
✔ 20 common PFAS chemicals
✔ Per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances