A harmful chemical was detected in bottled water sold at stores in Vermont and other states across New England. The producer, Spring Hill Farm Dairy Inc. of Haverhill, Massachusetts is recalling their stock, which is sold under various brand names, according to the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources.

The agency reported that New Hampshire health officials found per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly referred to as PFAS, in the bottled water at levels that exceed Vermont's standards.

What brands of bottled water have been affected?

The tainted water has production dates from before July 24, 2019, according to the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources. So make sure to check labels of bottled water for dates to see if your purchases have been affected. The water is sold under a variety of brands including:

365

Best Yet

Cumberland Farms

CVS (Ice Canyan)

IGA

FoodTop

Shaw's

The Vermont Department of Health and the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation are urging people not to drink bottled water produced by the company, listed as spring water on the label.

The state is working with Spring Hill Dairy to make sure all the contaminated water is removed from shelves.

What are PFAS and why are they harmful?

The Vermont Department of Health has this information on PFAS, put out in a July fact sheet:

PFAS are human-made chemicals used in industry and various products because they are resistant to heat, water, oil, grease and stains.

Everyone is exposed to PFAS chemicals because they are everywhere in the environment.

Some studies have shown the chemical can have toxic effects on human health including: interference with natural hormones, increased cholesterol levels, increased risk of cancer, a decrease in a person's chances of getting pregnant and changes to the immune system.

The sum of the five different PFAS levels should not exceed 20 ppt in drinking water in accordance with state standards.

As soon as the Department of Environmental Conservation receives test results confirming acceptable PFAS levels in Spring Hill Farm Dairy's products, it will update its website (dec.vermont.gov/pfas).

For more general information about PFAS and its health effects, call the Vermont Department of Health at 1-800-439-8550.

Contact Sadie Housberg at shousberg@freepressmedia.com or 802-660-1845. Follow her on Twitter at @HousbergSadie.