What Are Perfluoroalkylated Substances (PFAS)?
Perfluoroalkylated Substances (PFAS) are manmade substances. The most common are perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). We use many products that contain PFAS. They can be used to keep food from sticking to cookware, to make carpets and sofas resistant to stains, to make clothes and mattresses more waterproof, and to make some food packaging resistant to grease absorption. Due to their common use in everyday products, almost everyone is exposed to low levels of PFAS from the air, soil, indoor dust, food, water, and various consumer products.
More Information On PFAS
What are PFAS adverse health effects? |
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No consistent association has been found between PFAS levels and adverse health effects however some but not all studies in humans have shown that certain PFAS may possibly:
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Can I get a blood test to know if I have been exposed to PFAS? |
| While a blood test can detect the presence of PFAS, the results of blood tests will not determine if you are likely to have any adverse health effects from exposure to PFOS and PFOA. Due to their common use in everyday products, almost everyone is exposed to low levels of PFOS and PFOA and will have detectable levels of PFAS in their blood. |
What are the acceptable levels of PFAS in drinking water? |
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Screening values are established at a level designed to protect the health of Canadians, including children, based on a lifetime's exposure to the substance. The Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks’ (MECP) has an Interim Advice Value for PFAS that is being used by both the City of North Bay Water Treatment Plant and the Department of National Defense drinking water testing program. Based on this Interim Advise Value, PFAS levels in drinking water are not to exceed 70 nanograms per litre (ng/L) for the total sum of 11 types of PFAS. The MECP value is lower than Health Canada’s current PFAS screening values. In February (2023) Health Canada published a proposed new PFAS objective value for public consultation. The proposed objective value is 30 ng/L for a total sum of 18 types of PFAS which is much lower than Health Canada’s current screening values and also lower than the MECP’s Interim Advice Value. Health Canada’s proposed objective will go through the consultation process before it is approved and put into effect. |
Why has Health Canada proposed new PFAS values? |
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Health Canada's PFAS standards are based on available scientific studies and assessments conducted by other jurisdictions. It is believed that a reduction in PFAS levels in drinking water, in areas where that is the most significant exposure source, can lead to a reduction in PFAS levels in the blood, possibly reducing the occurrence of adverse health outcomes. |
How does Health Canada determine the acceptable levels of PFAS? |
| Health Canada's PFAS screening values are based on available scientific studies, as well as assessments conducted by other jurisdictions. When the screening values are developed, Health Canada includes a margin of safety (or 'buffer zone'). As such, screening values are set at a level designed to protect the health of Canadians, including children, based on a lifetime's exposure to the substance. |
How long have PFAS been used in Canada? |
| PFAS have been used worldwide for more than 50 years. While some PFAS are still being made globally, the main producer of PFOS phased out global production in 2002. PFAS use in Canada has mostly been phased out. |
Is water the only source of PFAS? |
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No, although drinking water remains the most significant source of PFAS in the body due to its common use in everyday products, almost everyone is exposed to low levels of PFOS and PFOA from the air, soil, indoor dust, food, water, and various consumer products. |
What types of products may contain PFAS, or have contained PFAS in the past? |
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Where have PFAS been detected in North Bay?
PFAS have been detected in Trout Lake, Lake Nipissing, Lees, Dorlan, Chippewa, and Lavase Creeks, North Bay Jack Garland Airport, the Canadian Forces Base (CFB) North Bay, and monitoring wells located near CFB North Bay. PFAS have also been detected in the surroundings of those areas in smaller concentrations.
Updates on this situation:
August 17, 2017
In a follow-up to the Department of National Defence's (DND) December 11, 2016, report regarding perfluoroalkylated substances (PFAS) detected in North Bay waterways, Dr Chirico, the Medical Officer of Health, has been investigating to determine whether a health hazard exists. To read the recommendations made by Dr. Chirico to protect the health of the public, please click here: PFAS MOH Report and Recommendations.
June 26, 2017
The Health Unit was notified by the Department of National Defence (DND) that two private drinking water wells in the vicinity of the Canadian Forces Base (CFB) have detectable levels of perfluoroalkylated substances (PFAS) that exceed Health Canada's drinking water screening values. Affected homeowners were notified and advised not to drink or use the water for cooking purposes. DND have supplied water to the affected residents and will continue to do so until a long-term solution has been established. Some homeowner's test results remain outstanding and further testing is planned.
April 7, 2017
DND hired an independent consultant to develop a testing plan, which included sampling the water supply systems in the vicinity of the Canadian Forces Base (CFB) of North Bay/Airport area. Water sampling started on April 6, 2017, for perfluoroalkylated substances (PFAS) from private wells.
Frequently asked questions on this situation:
Where did the PFAS come from? |
| The PFAS in North Bay are suspected to have come from the CFB North Bay/Airport area. They are thought to be from fire-fighting foam used in the past to fight fires and to train firefighters. Runoff water from CFB North Bay and the Airport enter Trout Lake through Lees Creek. |
Are the fire-fighting foams still being used by CFB North Bay and at the airport? |
| Based on current information, no fire-fighting training using fire-fighting foams has been carried out at CFB North Bay or the airport since 1998. There are still PFAS containing fire-fighting foams stored on the properties and the Department of National Defense (DND) is working to have these chemicals removed and destroyed. |
When did the Health Unit become aware of this information? |
| The Health Unit was notified by the DND in December 2016 of their ongoing PFAS monitoring at CFB North Bay. Since this time, the Health Unit, in collaboration with community partners, have collected and analyzed available information to determine the level of risk, if any, posed to the public. Based on current groundwater results from deep bedrock wells near DND property, PFAS levels have not exceeded Health Canada Drinking Water Screening Values. As a precautionary approach, off-site private water wells are planned to be tested. Although we do not have all the information at this time, the Health Unit, the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change (MOECC), City of North Bay and DND feel it is important for the public to be aware of its ongoing investigation into PFAS. |
What is the Public Health Unit's role? |
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The Public Health Unit advises the public on measures they should take to protect themselves. The Health Unit also works with the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP), the City of North Bay, and the Department of National Defense (DND) to understand the extent of the PFAS situation and response actions being undertaken while ensuring that the public's health is protected. |
What is the next step? |
| The Health Unit will communicate with private well owners in the vicinity of CFB North Bay and Lees Creek to arrange for private well water testing to determine if PFAS are present. |
How will we know the results? |
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Private well water owners who qualified and accepted to participate in DND/consultant drinking water program are informed of their results. Private water results are kept confidential and not shared with other agencies or the public. Owners are encouraged to reach out to Health Unit if they have health-related questions. North Bay public members may obtain results for the municipal water samples by contacting the City of North Bay. |
What if I want to test my private well water myself for PFAS? |
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If you live within the surroundings of the Jackland Airport or CFB 22 Wing, contact DND to see if you qualify to be integrated into their testing program. You will be provided with all the necessary information about the process if you qualify. If you are outside of this area, you do not qualify to enter DND program. PFAS testing requires a stringent and complex sampling procedure. Owners who would like to test their own water should contact a licensed private environmental laboratory to discuss collection, shipment and the related cost of analysis. Failing to follow sampling procedure may influence sample accuracy. The Ontario Public Health Laboratory does not do PFAS testing. |
How is municipal water affected? |
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The North Bay Municipal Water remains below the MECP standards of 70 ng/L for 11 chemicals. The City of NB and DND are working together on future plans and will communicate with the public when necessary. |
Can I drink water from Lees Creek? |
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No, without treating it for chemicals and microorganisms, you should not drink the water from Lees Creek, or any other open water sources. PFAS levels in Lees Creek fluctuate, with seasonal events reaching up, sometimes very higher levels. |
I have a private water system that draws water from Trout Lake. Is my water safe to drink? |
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Based on available data, the levels of PFAS detected in Trout Lake remain below the MECP standards of 70 ng/L. There are approved point-of-use filters that can remove or reduce PFAS levels in households drinking water. You may have to pay a fee to dispose of the filter cartridge. You should consult the water treatment vendor companies to learn the costs and frequency of discarding the filter cartridges. |
Will PFAS levels increase in Trout lake in the future? |
| Increased levels of PFAS in Trout Lake are not expected. |
Can I swim in Trout Lake? |
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Yes, activities like bathing, showering, washing dishes, brushing teeth and doing laundry do not pose a health risk . PFAS stay in the water so you can't breathe them in and they won't be absorbed through the skin. Samples of foam collected around Trout Lake have shown elevated concentrations of PFAS. Parents are advised to discourage their children from rubbing foam on their bodies or playing with it. |
Are there water treatment devices that can remove PFAS? |
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Some home water filtration systems can reduce the amount of PFAS in drinking water. How much PFAS is removed depends on the level of PFAS, the type of filter, and how well the filter is maintained. A water treatment specialist may be able to discuss how to optimize the removal of PFAS. |
Can I eat fish from Lees Creek and Trout Lake? |
| As per the 2017-2018 Guide to Eating Ontario Fish, you should not eat fish caught from Lees Creek. For Trout Lake advisories, please check page 184 of the guide. |
What if I ate fish from Lees Creek? |
| Nearly all Canadians carry low levels of PFAS, including PFOS, in their blood. By consuming fish from Lees Creek, people increase their exposure to PFOS. In order to reduce exposure, it is recommended that no fish be consumed from Lees Creek at this time. |
For More Information:
Contact a Public Health Inspector at 705-474-1400 / 1-800-563-2808 ext. 5400 or at environmental.health@healthunit.ca.
If you would like to make an inquiry in writing, please complete the inquiry form. For a paper copy of this form, please call 705-474-1400 ext. 5400. The completed inquiry form can be submitted to a Public Health Inspector:
- by email: environmental.health@healthunit.ca;
- by fax: 705-474-9481; or
- by mail or in-person (Reception Desk) at 345 Oak Street West North Bay.ON P1B 2T2
For Media Inquiries:
Alex McDermid, Public Relations Specialist,
705-474-1400, ext. 5221 or 1-800-563-2808
Email: communications@healthunit.ca