The EPA says it still cares about forever chemicals, but health advocates are wary
1 min read
Summary
The EPA’s plan for so-called ‘forever chemicals’ is being criticised for potentially failing to protect drinking water from contamination.
Under the Biden administration, the EPA had finalised a rule designating the two most common forms of PFAS as hazardous substances and given enforceable limits on the amount of the chemicals permitted in drinking water but these are now under review.
New efforts to study the chemicals and develop new guidelines to limit pollution from manufacturers are to be introduced, but with no mention of whether the existing limits in drinking water will be enforced.
PFAS has been linked to cancer, liver damage and reproductive health issues and was used in products such as food packaging, non-stick pans and menstrual products.
Manufacturers faced with decades of lawsuits have made pledges to stop using the chemicals.