EPA sets first-ever national limits for ‘forever chemicals’ in drinking water

The Biden administration on Wednesday set the first-ever national limits on toxic and pervasive “permanent chemicals” in drinking water.

The government’s measures aim to reduce the amount of chemicals belonging to a class known as PFAS in drinking water.

These substances are used in the manufacture of waterproof and non-stick products and permeate a significant portion of the country’s water. These have been linked to an increased risk of prostate, kidney, and testicular cancer, a weakened immune system, delayed growth in children, decreased fertility in pregnant women, and high blood pressure.

These are called “eternal chemicals” because they tend to remain in nature without being broken down.

Some states have previously set their own limits on the amount of PFAS (short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) that can be found in drinking water; There were no restrictions applicable to.

The EPA said the rule could reduce exposure to these substances for about 100 million people, prevent thousands of deaths and reduce serious illness for tens of thousands.

“PFAS-contaminated drinking water has plagued communities across this country for far too long,” EPA Administrator Michael Regan said in a written statement.

“Today, we are proud to have completed an important part of our work. [PFAS] We will create a roadmap that will help save thousands of lives and help children grow up healthier,” Regan added.

The rule is expected to apply only to public drinking water systems, not to people who use private wells. The agency estimates that 6% to 10% of the nation’s drinking water systems will need to take some action to meet standards.

Water systems will have three years to monitor chemicals. If levels exceeding EPA standards are found, a system must be introduced to reduce them within five years.

In addition to the PFAS restrictions, the administration announced that $1 billion will be made available through the bipartisan Infrastructure Act to help both water systems and private wells address PFAS. Lawsuits between polluters and drinking water providers were recently settled, with 3M expected to pay more than $10 billion and DuPont and its spinoff companies together expected to pay $1.2 billion.

There are thousands of types of PFAS, but EPA regulations apply to only a handful. However, some of the techniques used to filter them from drinking water can also reduce the presence of other species.

The EPA has set legal limits for two of the most toxic and most notorious types of PFAS, called PFOA and PFOS, at 4 pps for each compound.

One part per trillion is roughly equivalent to one drop of water from 20 Olympic-sized swimming pools.

The agency has declared that there are no safe levels for the two compounds and said it has set unenforceable health targets at zero.

For other PFASs, known as PFNA, PFHxS, and GenX, authorities have set the legal limit at 10 ppb.

Because PFAS can be present in mixtures, the agency also has restrictions on mixtures of two or more of GenX, PFNA, PFHxS and another substance called PFBS.