Removing GenX From Water
What is GenX
GenX in the Water
GenX is a trade name for a man-made and unregulated chemical used in manufacturing nonstick coatings and for other purposes. Chemours (formerly DuPont) facility in Fayetteville, North Carolina began producing GenX commercially in 2009 as a replacement for PFOA. The same chemicals were also produced as a byproduct during other manufacturing processes and it may have been present in the environment for many years before being produced commercially as GenX.
GenX was first introduced to replace PFOA ("perfluorooctanoic acid") which is a compound that is used to manufacture Teflon and other such coatings for stain-resistant carpeting, waterproof clothing, and many other products. PFOA, which is also known as C8, was eliminated by DuPont after they were a party to a class-action lawsuit over health and environmental concerns.
GenX is also associated with some of the same health problems as PFOA, including cancer and reproductive issues. In 2009, the EPA was aware that GenX was likely dangerous to humans, but the information was ignored and the EPA granted DuPont and Chemours (a company spun off from DuPont) a consent order to allow them to use GenX.
I mention this because if you think the EPA is truly a watchdog, you are sadly mistaken. Exceptions like this happen all the time. One can only speculate why that occurs. GenX mixes easily into water and some call it a "water-loving chemical" which means it is very difficult to detect and study.
What we do know is that the body can store this chemical for years making the phrase, "Buy a Water Filter or Be a Water Filter" very appropriate, meaning even if the quality of your water supply isn't bad, it is nice to have a water filter. A lot could be written about these contaminants, and in fact there is a multitude of information already. Local governments are pushing the EPA to provide regulatory guidance for these contaminants, but to date, that has not happened. Frequently, it can take ten, fifteen or twenty years for a newly discovered chemical to become regulated by the EPA.
Removal of GenX From the Water
Much like 1,4-Dioxane, more research needs to be done on the removal of GenX from the water, although Reverse Osmosis has been demonstrated to be effective at considerable reduction of the contaminants. Filtering water through activated carbon has not been proven effective at removing chemicals like GenX. The chemical's genetic structure makes the chemical incredibly resistant to existing water treatment processes and degradation systems to minimize drinking water contaminants.
Conclusion
Whenever I am asked, what should I do about any water problem, and in the case of GenX, I simply put myself in the shoes of the homeowner. If I lived there, what would I do? Here's what I would do. I would use a prolonged contact granular activated carbon tank followed by a whole-house reverse osmosis system like this:
A system such as this will remove a substantial amount of GenX as well as thousands of other contaminants because reverse osmosis removed the largest spectrum of contaminants of any water treatment process. You can wait years for the EPA to do something, or you can remove the GenX and a plethora of other chemicals from your water TODAY!
29 Comments
How are aquasana whole house filtration systems?
Seems extremely expensive. Most R.O. systems under 1K so where does other 9k come from? Now I know you are here to sell as this is a dot.com but seriously why is cost so high? Break down if you dont need all the bells and whistles?
We recently purchased a kitchen RO system with a whole house double carbon filter added as well. I recently read an article written by NC State that the carbon filters are harmful long term because they kill the chlorine and other chemicals used to remove bacteria and viruses. They said your house could become a breeding ground for illnesses. Do you know if this is correct? And should I have the carbon filters removed?
Do you know anything about Niiken water filter?
Do you know anything about the Japanese company NIIKEN water filters?
Marana Water in Arizona just now notified our community that the levels of 1,4-dioxane are at o.8
Will the systems mentioned in your site work for my house. I just bought my house.
This article has been extremely helpful as Im searching for an under sink system to remove 1,4 Dioxane and Chromium Hexavalent from our townships municipal water. I have a question for Mark (thank you for you helpful comments!) My question is do I need an under sink system now that my township municipal water has installed a GAC carbon filter? (Reference: Plainfield Township area code 49525) If so, I dont see where the above recommended under sink system you mentioned to Elaine reduces 1, 4 Dioxane? It wasnt list on the product informations list? Can you clarify this for me? Thank you
Do any of the US Water Systems Tests test for 1,4 Dioxane levels?
Thank you for the helpful information on your blog!
Distillation has been attempted to remove 1,4-Dioxane, but often leads to the formation of hazardous peroxides from this website. https://www.watertechonline.com/treating-14-dioxane-in-an-era-of-water-scarcity/
What does this mean, if your using a water distiller and your water has a level of 1,4-Dioxane in the 0.46 PPB?
1,4-Dioxanes boiling point is 213.8F and water is at 212F, so wouldnt the 1,4-Dioxane be left behind in the water?
I live in an apartment and have recently learned the 1,4 dioxane level of my citys water (Mesa Water District in Costa Mesa, CA) is 3.29ppb (national level is .05 and CA state level is .148ppb). What type of water filter will remove 1,4 dioxane? I live an apartment so I cant drill into the sink or modify it much. I have been doing lots of research but am not able to find a water filter to remove or lessen 1,4 dioxane unless it is RO (which I cant install because I rent). Do you think I am just better off buying bottled water and risk exposure to BPA/BPA alternative? I have also contacted Mesa Water District to request they begin removing the 1,4 dioxane but of course they will not because its not mandated. Any advice would be much appreciated!
If these systems remove the contaminants and minerals from the water, how do you replace the good and necessary minerals and get the water back to a safe ph level?
What about a Berkey water filter?
Hi Mark,
As an alternative to reverse osmosis, is there a filter small enough to filter out GenX? Is reverse osmosis the only way to get this compound out of the water? Ive been trying to find information on the size of GenX, but all I can find is molecular weight.
Thank you so much for writing this article