Volatile Organic Compounds, PFOA, and PFOS Contaminants

摘要

Whether you're new to water well drilling or have been a professional contractor for years, you might be surprised at the range of chemicals that are an emerging concern for the Earth's water supply. For many decades, companies have used extremely tolerant chemicals to make common commercial and household products work effectively. These potent chemical compounds, known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), are found in thousands of products like gasoline, carpets, paints, glues, cleaners, plastics, dyes, and more. VOCs are chemicals that both vaporize into air and dissolve in water. Once released into groundwater, many VOCs are persistent and can migrate to water wells. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the detection of VOCs in aquifers is important because of the widespread and increasing use of groundwater for drinking water. The presence of elevated VOC concentrations in drinking water is a concern because of their potential to become carcinogenic (the tendency for a chemical to create tumors in the body).