EPA Issues Warnings on Forever Chemicals in Drinking Water

Synthetic pollutants know as “forever chemicals” are found in a variety of products in the facility you maintain—maybe even in the drinking water. Last week the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released new warnings for these chemical pollutants— per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)—even at extremely low levels in the drinking water, Reuters reports.

PFAS are found in household products and product packaging and are commonly added to carpeting and floor coatings to make them stain-resistant. Scientists have linked some PFAS to cancers, liver damage, low birth weight, and other health problems. But the chemicals, which are know as forever chemicals because they do not break down easily, are not yet regulated.

The EPA is preparing to issue proposed rules to regulate PFAS. In the meantime, the agency issued nonbinding health advisories that set health risk thresholds for the chemical pollutants to near zero, replacing 2016 guidelines that had set them at 70 parts per trillion. It will also use funding from the 2021 infrastructure law for water quality testing and installation of water treatments systems.

The EPA encourages entities that find PFAS in drinking water to inform residents, monitor the water, and take action to reduce people’s exposure to the chemicals. Residential and commercial facilities concerned with PFAS found in their water should consider installing a filter.

Environmental and public health groups called the new warnings a good first step. Advocates have been pushing for action on PFAS after thousands of communities detected PFAS in their water. PFAS chemicals have been confirmed at nearly 400 military installations and at least 200 million Americans are drinking water contaminated with PFAS, according to research and advocacy organization the Environmental Working Group.

However, the American Chemistry Council industry group said the EPA rushed the warnings by not waiting for a review by the agency’s Science Advisory Board. The group said it is concerned that the process for developing the advisories was “fundamentally flawed.”

For more information:

PFAS 101: Everything You Need to Know About ‘Forever Chemicals’
https://www.ecowatch.com/pfas-forever-chemicals-explainer.html