The administration of US President Donald Trump revealed plans on Wednesday to relax limits on the toxic “forever chemicals” present in drinking water, a shift from what had been seen as a significant public health achievement.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), maximum contamination levels will only be maintained for two of the most prominent compounds from the PFAS chemical group, while other chemicals known to pose significant health risks will see their restrictions lifted.
Recent findings indicate that about 158 million people in the US are drinking water tainted with perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which have been linked to a variety of health problems ranging from infertility issues to cancer and behavioral disorders in children.
The original regulations set by the Biden administration in April 2024 were commended as a necessary long-term solution to many years of governmental inaction and industrial deception.
However, the updated measures introduced by EPA administrator Lee Zeldin will only impose limitations on PFOA and PFOS, which are two older PFAS compounds that have historically been used in items like non-stick Teflon pans and 3M Scotch Guard.
Furthermore, the compliance deadlines for PFOA and PFOS will be extended from 2029 to 2031.
“We are committed to maintaining national standards for protecting Americans from PFOA and PFOS in their water,” Zeldin stated. “At the same time, we aim to offer reasonable flexibility by allowing additional time for compliance.”
PFA is often labeled as “eternal chemicals” due to their extraordinarily long degradation time in the environment.
First introduced in the 1930s, these chemicals are celebrated for their durability, heat resistance, and water and grease repellency, having been found in the blood of nearly every organism, from plateau regions to Tibetan seabeds.
They continue to be widely used in clothing, cooking tools, and cosmetics.
“This is a significant step backward and a betrayal of the commitments this administration made to ensure clean drinking water and air, aiming to make America healthy again,” remarked Melanie Benesh from a nonprofit environmental advocacy group.
She noted that alternative chemicals have been developed, yet EPA’s own studies have linked some of these, including GenX, to risks like liver and kidney damage, immune system issues, fetal development complications, and cancer.
Ultimately, water companies will need to install granular activated carbon filtration systems to eliminate PFAS molecules. However, newer PFAS variants with shorter molecular chains necessitate more frequent filter changes, resulting in higher operational costs.
“This is a boon for both water operators and polluters,” Benesh commented.
She also mentioned that the plan could face legal challenges under the Safe Drinking Water Act, which mandates that modifications to existing water standards must ensure health protection that meets or exceeds current regulations.
