For the first time ever, the Environmental Protection Agency announced Wednesday it is issuing a national regulation limiting the amount of certain per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as PFAS, found in drinking water.
Commonly called "forever chemicals," PFAS are synthetic chemicals found nearly everywhere – in air, water, and soil – and can take thousands of years to break down in the environment.
The EPA has stated there is no safe level of exposure to PFAS without risk of health impacts, but now it will require that public water utilities test for six different types of PFAS chemicals to reduce exposure in drinking water. The new standards will reduce PFAS exposure for 100 million people, according to the EPA, and prevent thousands of deaths and illnesses.
"Drinking water contaminated with PFAS has plagued communities across this country for too long," EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan said in a statement Wednesday.
Amid the new drinking water standards, public water utility companies must adhere to EPA regulations. To aid in this compliance, the EPA has allocated $1 billion to states and territories for implementing PFAS testing and treatment in public water systems. This funding is part of a larger $9 billion investment made available by the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to support communities affected by PFAS contamination.
"President Biden is committed to ensuring that all individuals have access to clean and safe drinking water, and he is following through on that commitment," stated Brenda Mallory, Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality.
PFAS have been utilized since the 1940s for their oil and water repellent properties and heat resistance, making them prevalent in various products. Despite this, as per industry records, manufacturers have been aware of the toxic nature of PFAS for many years.
"These chemicals can be present in items ranging from nonstick cookware to cleaning and personal care products," mentioned Regan during a press conference. "However, there is no denying that many of these substances can pose risks to both our health and the environment."
Studies have shown that exposure to certain levels of PFAS in the environment can lead to various health issues, including reproductive complications like reduced fertility, developmental delays in children, low birth weight, a weakened immune system, elevated cholesterol levels, effects on the cardiovascular system, and certain types of cancer.
Expert Warns of Health Risks Associated with PFAS Chemicals
Renowned expert Dr. Linda Birnbaum has highlighted the concerning data linking PFAS chemicals to various forms of cancer, with kidney and testicular cancer showing the strongest correlation. Dr. Birnbaum emphasizes the need for a broader approach to regulating these chemicals, as the current standard only addresses six out of over 15,000 known PFAS chemicals.
Dr. Birnbaum suggests that a more comprehensive evaluation of PFAS as a chemical class is necessary, questioning the necessity of these substances in our daily lives.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has estimated that a significant number of public water systems will need to take action to comply with the new regulations aimed at reducing PFAS contamination. Water utility operators will have a five-year timeline to test, identify, and implement treatment technologies to address PFAS pollution.
Erik D. Olson from the Natural Resources Defense Council supports the EPA's efforts, noting that the cost of treating contaminated water is estimated at $1.5 billion. Olson emphasizes that the health benefits of these regulations far outweigh the financial costs.
Despite the known risks associated with PFAS chemicals, the process of regulating these substances at the federal level has been slow, raising concerns about the prolonged exposure of the public to these potentially harmful compounds.
"There's just a huge amount of political opposition from the chemical industry and, frankly, from some of the water utilities, that don't want EPA to regulate these chemicals, because they know that once EPA cracks down on them, it's going to cost them a lot of money, and they don't want to spend that money," Olson said.
While the onus on clean up will come at the cost of the water utility companies, the new regulations do little to hold polluters accountable for the damage PFAS have done to the environment and human health. There have been several major settlements in recent years by chemical companies over PFAS contamination, a notable one being a $10.3 billion settlement reached by 3M in June 2023.
If you want to limit your exposure to PFAS in drinking water, you can ask your water utility how it is testing for the chemicals, or have your water tested by a state-certified laboratory using EPA-testing standards. There are several technologies available to purchase to filter PFAS from your home water source. As for PFAS found in other common goods, there are several running lists to help track which companies have banned PFAS from their products.
