Does Brita Filter PFAS?

Quick answer: Standard Brita pitcher filters use granular activated carbon and are designed mainly to reduce chlorine taste and odor. They are not marketed as PFAS filters. In independent testing by the Environmental Working Group, the standard Brita filter reduced PFAS by about 66 percent and the Brita Elite by about 22 percent. Partial reduction is better than nothing, but if PFAS is the reason you are shopping for a filter, choose one that has been specifically tested for PFOA and PFOS reduction and check the manufacturer's published test data or certification listing before you buy.

What are PFAS and why do they matter?

PFAS, short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a family of more than 12,000 man made chemicals including PFOA, PFOS, GenX, PFBS, PFHxS, PFBA, PFHxA, PFHpA, and PFDA. They are often called forever chemicals because they are extremely persistent: they do not readily break down in the environment and they build up in blood and organs over time. You cannot see or taste them in water. Health research reviewed by the CDC's Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry has linked PFAS exposure to effects including developmental problems in children, immune system effects, and increased risk of some cancers.

How PFAS get into tap water

PFAS have been manufactured in industrial quantities since the 1940s for products like nonstick cookware, water resistant fabrics such as Gore-Tex, stain treatments, and flame resistant children's pajamas. The primary historical manufacturer, 3M, began phasing out production of the best known compounds in 2002 in response to EPA concerns, and eight other companies agreed to phase them out by 2015, but the chemicals already released persist. By some estimates, roughly 200 million Americans are drinking water with detectable PFAS, and PFAS have been found in the blood of about 98 percent of the US population. It is also worth knowing that annual Water Quality Reports are only required to cover a limited list of regulated contaminants, so PFAS can be present without appearing in the report your utility mails you.

Does a Brita filter remove PFAS?

Brita pitchers earned their popularity honestly: they are affordable, replacement filters are cheap, and they noticeably improve chlorine taste and odor. But the standard filters are built with granular activated carbon (GAC), loose carbon granules that water flows through quickly. That format is inexpensive to manufacture and works well for taste and odor. It was not designed with PFAS in mind, and Brita does not market its standard pitcher filters as PFAS removal products. The only way to know how any filter performs on PFAS is independent test data.

What EWG's testing found

The Environmental Working Group ran lab tests on popular home water filters specifically for PFAS reduction, including two Brita filters. The standard Brita filter reduced PFAS by about 66 percent. The Brita Elite, which uses a different filter media, reduced total PFAS by only about 22 percent, the lowest overall reduction among the filters EWG tested. EWG's testers also flagged a sealing issue with the Elite that could let some water bypass the filter media, which may help explain the result. For comparison, the same EWG guide measured 98 percent PFAS reduction for the Epic Pure filter. The takeaway is not that a Brita does nothing. It is that a majority-reduction some of the time is a very different promise than a filter designed and tested for the job.

Which filter types actually remove PFAS?

Reverse osmosis

Reverse osmosis systems push water through a membrane and are effective against PFAS. The tradeoffs are cost and practicality: they typically require installation under the sink, take up cabinet space, need periodic filter and membrane changes, and conventional systems can send several gallons of water down the drain for every gallon they produce.

Solid carbon block

Carbon block filters compress activated carbon into a dense solid block. Water moves through more slowly and contacts far more carbon surface on the way, which is why carbon block filters can capture contaminants that pass through loose granular carbon, including PFOA and PFOS. They cost more to manufacture than GAC but are generally cheaper than reverse osmosis, install in minutes in a pitcher or dispenser format, and waste no water. At Epic Water Filters we build around American made solid carbon block and carbon fiber block media, and we have tested our filters against the two most common PFAS compounds, PFOS and PFOA.

How to check any filter's PFAS claims

Whatever brand you consider, apply the same test we would want applied to us: look for published third party lab results or a certification listing (such as NSF/ANSI 53 or 58) that specifically names PFOA and PFOS reduction. A vague claim like "reduces chemicals" is not the same thing as PFAS test data. If the manufacturer cannot show you numbers, assume the filter has not been tested.

Should you filter cooking water too?

Yes, if PFAS is your concern. Boiling water does nothing to remove PFAS, and the water you cook with ends up in your food: pasta, rice, soups, and coffee all absorb it. Filtering cooking water addresses that, and as a side benefit filtered water reduces scale buildup in kettles and coffee makers.

The bottom line

Brita filters are a reasonable budget choice for what they are designed to do: better tasting, chlorine free water. But independent testing shows their PFAS reduction is partial at best, so if forever chemicals are the reason you are buying a filter, buy one that was designed and tested for exactly that. Start with our guide to choosing a water filter for PFAS. The Pure XP pitcher is independently tested to reduce lead, PFAS, chlorine, and over 99.9% of microplastics, the Pure XP Dispenser brings the same filtration to a larger fridge format, and our home filtration lineup covers the kitchen tap for drinking and cooking water.

Related reading

• Is Brita Water Actually Good For You?
• Plastic Water Bottles and Microplastics
• Why Is Dasani Water Bad For You?

Sources

• Environmental Working Group: EWG's Guide to PFAS Water Filters
• NCBI (PubMed Central): Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance Toxicity and Human Health Review: Current State of Knowledge
• ATSDR (CDC): What are the health effects of PFAS?

Brita is a registered trademark of its respective owner. Epic Water Filters is not affiliated with Brita. This article is for educational purposes and is not medical advice.