DEQ has designated PFAS as one of 60 priority chemicals or chemical classes for its Toxics Reduction Strategy. In addition, DEQ is working with the Oregon Health Authority and other federal, state, and local agency partners to address growing public health and environmental concerns. DEQ and OHA are evaluating appropriate policy responses to protect public health and the environment from PFAS contamination.
Although PFAS can be found in air, water and soil, the primary concern for human exposure to this class of chemicals in Oregon is from potential drinking water contamination. In 2013-2015, EPA tested 65 major public drinking water systems (serving populations over 10,000) and some smaller systems in Oregon for six PFAS compounds (PFOS, PFOA, PFNA, PFHxS, PFHpA, and PFBS). Their analysis of these drinking water systems found no detection of PFAS.
DEQ air, land and water programs, as well as the DEQ lab, are taking the following steps to address PFAS:
Identifying sites that may use PFAS in their operations
Overseeing site testing and assessment of impacts
Using newly developed analytical methods for testing for PFAS in water
Using Cleaner Air Oregon's dataon requested toxic pollutant emissions reports from industries that included PFAS
Coordinating with federal, state, and local agency partners