PFAS Detected in Scioto River at Multiple Sites
Ohio EPA water sampling results show measurable levels of PFAS — so-called “forever chemicals” — throughout the Scioto River.
Data collected between 2023 and 2024 indicate the following totals for PFAS compounds, measured in parts per trillion (ppt):
Scioto River at Piketon: 74 ppt
Scioto River at Waverly: 96 ppt
Scioto River west of U.S. 23/State Route 159 in Ross County: 89 ppt
Scioto River near Westfall, upstream of the B&E Landfill in Pickaway County: 82 ppt
Scioto River near Klondike in Delaware County: 71 ppt
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued interim health advisories in 2022 for PFOA and PFOS — two of the most studied PFAS compounds — at 0.004 ppt and 0.02 ppt, respectively.
The levels recorded in the Scioto River are thousands of times higher than those advisories, though the totals include a wide range of PFAS chemicals beyond PFOA and PFOS.
PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are synthetic chemicals used in a variety of industrial and consumer products. They are highly resistant to breaking down in the environment and can accumulate in human blood and tissue.
*Source - Ohio EPA | Large River Water Sample Results PFAS (EnviroScience)(2023-2024)
