PFAS

Per- and Polyfluorinated Substances better known as PFAS are a group of chemicals widely used in making things like non-stick pans, stain-resistant fabrics, cosmetics, and waterproof gear. These chemicals have been around since the 1940s and can be found in many everyday items, from clothes to food containers to cleaning products. PFAS can be present in water, soil, air, and food as well as in materials found in homes and workplaces. The problem with PFAS chemicals is that they don't break down over time, so they accumulate in the environment, people, and animals. This is why they are called "forever chemicals."

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) has found evidence that exposure to PFAS can lead to adverse human health effects such as cancer, liver effects, immunological effects, decreased birth weights, thyroid disease, decreased fertility, and cardiovascular disease. Due to these concerns, health advisories and regulatory limits for various PFAS chemicals in drinking water are being developed at both the state and federal levels. 

The general population is primarily exposed to PFAS through the ingestion of contaminated food, water, household dust, and hand-to-mouth contact with PFAS-treated products, such as carpets or cosmetics containing PFAS.

 As “forever chemicals,” trace amounts of PFAS are often detected in drinking water. Lincolnwood's drinking water is purchased from the City of Evanston and is regularly tested by the City and by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA).  Evanston's detected levels for PFOA and PFOS are below the EPA's proposed levels of 4 parts per trillion for both chemicals.  The Evanston Water Utility currently monitors for 18 PFAS chemicals on a quarterly basis. Please see this link for the current testing information.

The 104th Illinois General Assembly passed House Bill 2516 signed into law by Governor Pritzker on August 15, 2025 (Public Act 104-0231). The law bans the sale or distribution of products with intentionally added PFAS, including cosmetics, dental floss, juvenile products, menstrual products, and intimate apparel, starting January 1, 2032. Exemptions apply to used goods, internal electronic components, certain federally regulated products, and specific EPA-approved refrigerants and foams. It also directs the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to submit a report by August 1, 2027 on the risks and supply-chain uses of fluoropolymers. 

Residents with any water quality questions are encouraged to contact the Village of Lincolnwood's Water Department at publicworks@lwd.org or 847-675-0888.

Resources:
IEPA PFAS Info
MWRD PFAS Info
DrinkTap.org PFAS Consumer Info
EPA's PFAS Information
EPA’s PFAS Management Plan Website