EPA takes action for first time in 27 years against ‘forever chemicals’ feared to be contaminating water for over 200 million
The US Environmental Protection Agency
has set legally enforceable drinking water limits for a group of the
most dangerous PFAS compounds, marking what public health advocates
hailed as “historic” rules that will dramatically improve the safety of
the nation’s water.
PFAS, known as “forever chemicals”, are ubiquitous in the environment and thought to be contaminating drinking water for more than 200 million people across the US. Any exposure to some highly toxic varieties of the compounds is considered a health and cancer risk.
The
agency’s action marks the first time in 27 years it has put in place
new drinking water limits for contaminants, and the rules are part of
the Biden administration’s broader effort to rein in PFAS pollution.
“Americans
have been drinking contaminated water for decades, but today’s action
will finally get these toxic chemicals out of our water,” said Melanie
Benesh, vice-president for government affairs at Environmental Working
Group, which tracks PFAS water pollution across the globe, in a statement.
Officials
said the rules will reduce exposure for 100 million people and help
prevent thousands of illnesses, including cancers. Michael Regan, the
EPA administrator, said the rule is the most important action the agency
has ever taken on PFAS.
“The result is a comprehensive and life-changing rule, one that will
improve the health and vitality of so many communities across our
country,” said Regan, who will announce the rule in Fayetteville, North
Carolina, on Wednesday.
PFAS, or per- and
polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a class of about 15,000 chemicals often
used to make products resistant to water, stains and heat. They are
called “forever chemicals” because they do not naturally break down, and
are linked to cancer, liver problems, thyroid issues, birth defects, kidney disease, decreased immunity and other serious health problems.
After
years of issuing health advisories, the EPA on Wednesday set maximum
contaminant levels (MCLs), which are the highest level at which a
contaminant can be in water. Critics say PFAS’ dangers have been known
for years and the EPA has been slow to respond.
Between
2016 and 2022, the EPA’s advisory health limit was set at 70 parts per
trillion (ppt) for PFOS and PFOA, two commonly produced compounds used
for decades.
Last year, after science showed no
level of exposure to the two chemicals in drinking water is safe, the
EPA set non-enforceable advisory health limits of 0.02 ppt and 0.004 ppt
for PFOA and PFOS, respectively.
“This
reflects the latest science showing that there is no level of exposure
to these contaminants without risk of health impacts, including certain
cancers,” the EPA wrote.
The new enforceable
limits for PFOA and PFOS are four ppt each, the lowest level at which
water-testing technology can reliably obtain readings. The EPA noted in a
release that the law requires it to consider feasibility and water
treatment costs in addition to health risks.
It
also set limits of 10 ppt for any combination of three other PFAS
compounds, including PFNA, PfHxS, and HFPO dimer acid, more commonly
called GenX. For any combination of those three compounds and PFBS, the
agency set a variable limit.
EPA scientists
calculated that the new limits will result in thousands of fewer
birth-weight related infant deaths, kidney cancer deaths, bladder cancer
deaths and deaths from cardiovascular disease.
Though
the rules only address several PFAS compounds, the technology water
utilities are installing will address many of the compounds. However,
the technology does not address some of the newly discovered “ultra
short chain” PFAS that are not well studied. Public health advocates say
the problem highlights the need to regulate PFAS as a class and
prohibit their non-essential uses.
Water
utilities have long opposed the rules because they did not want to have
to pay for upgrades, which they say will cost billions of dollars and
lead to increased bills for customers.
The
proposed limits established early last year contributed to a wave of
utility lawsuits aimed at PFAS producers such as 3M, DuPont and
Chemours. The companies settled some class actions, agreeing to pay up
to $15bn to help fund upgrades to municipal water filtration systems.
However,
more lawsuits are playing out as water utilities or well owners not
covered by the class actions sue. The Biden administration also made
billions of dollars available though the Inflation Reduction Act, but
the cost to upgrade the nation’s water systems could be as much as $400bn. In part citing the regulatory and legal environments, 3M announced last year it would stop making PFAS.
Over
the last year, EPA has periodically released batches of utility test
results for PFAS in drinking water. Roughly 16% of utilities found at
least one of the two strictly limited PFAS chemicals at or above the new
limits. These utilities serve tens of millions of people. The Biden administration, however, expects about 6-10% of water systems to exceed the new limits.
Water
providers will generally have three years to do testing. If those test
exceed the limits, they will have two more years to install treatment
systems, according to EPA officials.
(Article by Tom Perkins republished from theguardian)
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Author: Planet Today
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