EPA Proposes Limits on “Forever Chemicals” in Drinking Water
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) last week also proposed the first federal limits on what have become known as “forever chemicals” in drinking water. Public health advocates expressed approval of the strength of the proposed limits.
Known for their toxicity and indefinite persistence in the environment, chemicals abbreviated as PFAS (per- and polyfluorinated substances) are a group of compounds that are widespread, dangerous, expensive to remove from water, don’t degrade in the environment, and are linked to a broad range of health issues, including low birthweight and kidney cancer.
EPA’s proposal would set the standard for drinking water at a strict 4 parts per trillion, the lowest level that can be reliably detected and measured. That standard would apply to two of the most common types of PFAS, with four others to be limited in combination. Public water utilities would have to monitor for these levels and respond when they are exceeded. A formal public comment period will be opened for the proposed standard, with agency action expected by the end of the year.
“The science is clear that long-term exposure to PFAS is linked to significant health risks,” said Radhika Fox, assistant EPA administrator for water. Fox called the proposal “transformational change” which will reduce PFAS exposure for nearly 100 million Americans, decreasing rates of cancer, heart attacks and birth complications.
“These first-ever national drinking water standards are a huge win for communities all across the country whose health has been jeopardized by toxic ‘forever chemicals’” said League of Conservation Voters (LCV) Deputy Legislative Director Madeleine Foote. “We commend the Biden-Harris administration for following the science that continues to link PFAS to health problems including certain cancers, thyroid disease, neurological development issues, weakened immune systems, and more. Chemical companies have known and hidden the risks that PFAS pose to our health and environment for decades, and we must ensure that the costs of these critical safeguards fall on them, not consumers, and that they are held accountable for the damage they have done. We urge the administration to quickly finalize these important drinking water protections and continue taking other actions, like imposing limits on additional PFAS, to protect our health from these dangerous chemicals.”
North Carolina-based advocates including the Cape Fear River Watch and Clean Cape Fear agreed. “No one should ever wonder if the PFAS in their tap water will one day make them sick,” Clean Cape Fear co-founder Emily Donovan said. “We all deserve access to health-protective drinking water. It’s a basic human right. We applaud the Biden EPA for having the courage to do what multiple administrations could not. Today, prayers were answered.”
