EPA Limits "Forever Chemicals" In Drinking Water

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed the first federal limits on harmful “forever chemicals” in drinking water, a long-awaited protection the agency said will save thousands of lives and prevent serious illnesses, including cancer, Michael Phillis and Matthew Daly reported for the Associated Press (AP).

Photo Insert: The agency estimates the rule could reduce PFAS exposure for nearly 100 million Americans, decreasing rates of cancer, heart attacks, and birth complications.

The plan would limit toxic PFAS chemicals to the lowest level that tests can detect. PFAS, or per-and polyfluorinated substances, are a group of compounds that are widespread, dangerous, and expensive to remove from water.

They don’t degrade in the environment and are linked to a broad range of health issues, including low birth weight and kidney cancer.

The proposal would set strict limits of 4 parts per trillion, the lowest level that can be reliably measured, for two common types of PFAS compounds called PFOA and PFOS. In addition, the EPA wants to regulate the combined amount of four other types of PFAS.

Water providers will have to monitor for PFAS.

“The science is clear that long-term exposure to PFAS is linked to significant health risks,” Radhika Fox, assistant EPA administrator for water, said in an interview. Fox called the federal proposal a “transformational change” for improving the safety of drinking water in the United States.

The agency estimates the rule could reduce PFAS exposure for nearly 100 million Americans, decreasing rates of cancer, heart attacks, and birth complications.

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