EPA moves to limit ‘forever chemicals’ found in drinking water

The toxic “forever chemicals” in our drinking water could finally be limited.

The Environmental Protection Agency announced a restriction proposal for potentially harmful PFAs (per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances) in drinking water, which the agency expects could “prevent thousands of deaths and reduce tens of thousands of serious PFAS-attributable illnesses.”

PFAs, commonly used in stain-resistant or water-repellent items, have previously been found in cookware, clothes, food and cosmetics. Research has shown the chemicals’ link to cancer and other health problems, such as issues with the immune system, liver, fertility and more.

The EPA proposed the National Primary Drinking Water Regulation on Tuesday, which would limit the amount of six PFAs found in water.

Otherwise known as “forever chemicals,” the chemicals endure in the environment for years and pose a health risk to people even with limited exposure.

EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan said in a press release that the agency plans to “aggressively confront these harmful chemicals” since “communities across this country have suffered far too long from the ever-present threat of PFAS pollution.

“This action has the potential to prevent tens of thousands of PFAS-related illnesses and marks a major step toward safeguarding all our communities from these dangerous contaminants,” he added.

The proposed regulation singles out perfluorooctanoic acid and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid, due to their abundance, and would limit both chemicals to four parts per trillion, the lowest reliable amount possible to detect. The updated guidance is a striking contrast from the previously suggested 70 parts per trillion guidelines set by the EPA in 2016.

The remaining four PFA types — perfluorononanoic acid, erfluorobutane sulfonic acid, hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid and perfluorohexane sulfonic acid — will be evaluated as a group.

Regan announced the “first-ever national standard” in Wilmington, North Carolina, on Tuesday, saying the agency is “finally answering” the public’s call to action.

“What began as a so-called miracle groundbreaking technology meant for practicality and convenience, quickly devolved into one of the most pressing environmental and public health concerns in the modern world,” he said at the press briefing, according to the Wall Street Journal.

According to the research group Toxic-Free Future, this would be “the first time that drinking water standards have been proposed for a new chemical under the Safe Drinking Water Act since it was updated in 1996.”

The EPA expects regulation to be finalized by the end of 2023, in the hopes that “the rule will prevent thousands of deaths and reduce tens of thousands of serious PFAS-attributable illnesses.”

The announcement follows the agency’s urgent warning last year about the presence of PFAs in drinking water, citing years of studies that suggest PFAs cause more harm than previously believed.

According to the National Institute of Health, approximately 97% of Americans have “forever chemicals” in their blood.

Regan said the proposal “is informed by the best available science” and would aim to provide states “guidance they need to make decisions that best protect their communities.”

Upon implementation, public water systems will be required to monitor PFAs, inform the public of PFAs levels and, if it exceeds the set guidelines, reduce the number of PFAs in the water.

Multiple states have already implemented their own guidelines and regulations for PFAs — and not just for water. California eliminated the chemicals from menstrual products, while Alaska prohibits the presence in firefighting substances.

Advocacy groups applauded the proposal but said much needs to be done to eliminate PFAs overall.

“The EPA’s new standards for PFAS in drinking water are an important reminder of how these forever chemicals can be toxic at incredibly low levels of exposure,” Mike Schade, the director of Toxic-Free Future’s Mind the Store, said in a statement, urging retailers to “phase out” the chemicals.

“Retailers can play a critical role in safeguarding drinking water by banning these forever chemicals once and for all.”

“While this standard is welcome news, it is clear our chemical regulatory system continues to allow companies to put cancer-causing PFAS into millions of products and is failing our health,” Laurie Valeriano, Toxic-Free Future’s executive director, said in a statement.

“We applaud the Biden administration for following the lead of the states and stepping up to protect communities from these toxic ‘forever chemicals,’” Sarah Doll, the national director of Safer States, said in a statement. “These proposed standards are a positive step forward and reinforce the need for all parts of government to address the PFAS crisis.”