EPA Restricts Toxic PFAS “Forever Chemicals” Found In Drinking Water

As many as 105 million people in the U.S. get their drinking water from water systems contaminated by the six PFAS chemicals newly regulated by the EPA at a level exceeding the standards announced April 10. PFAS chemicals are infamous for their extreme persistence in the environment and widespread pollution; almost no level of exposure is safe for public health.  

The restrictions on PFAS mark the first time EPA has initiated a final rule on unregulated contaminants in water in 28 years. EPA now has concluded that there is no safe level of PFOA or PFOS exposure and the new rule sets an enforceable limit of 4 parts per trillion (ppt) for each. Four other chemicals -- PFBS, PFNA, PFHxS, and GenX – mostly used as replacements for PFOA and PFOS, will be regulated as a mixture using a “hazard index” approach, and the latter three of these will have individual standards as well.  

A range of harmful health effects have been linked to PFAS exposure including kidney and testicular cancer, high cholesterol, changes in hormone levels, and harmful effects on the liver, kidneys, and immune, nervous, and reproductive systems.