EPA Implements Regulations to Combat “Forever Chemicals” In Drinking Water

EPA Implements Regulations to Combat “Forever Chemicals” In Drinking Water

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), so-called “forever chemicals,” are man-made chemicals that are likely in your food, water, clothes, furniture, and plenty of other everyday products like dental floss and menstrual products. They have been linked to everything from cancers to thyroid disease, liver damage, decreased fertility, allergies, and reduced vaccine response in children. Scientists have strong reason to believe that PFAS are in every American’s bloodstream — and these chemicals stay there and don’t break down. Scientists have determined that even if you completely cut PFAS out of your life — a feat that science says is practically impossible — it would still take four, seven, or maybe even ten years, depending on the types of PFAS, for your body to expel only half of these chemicals.

However, this does not mean we should abandon methods to reduce our exposure, which has been shown to be impactful. Back in the 2000s, manufacturers phased out two of the most notoriously harmful PFAS — perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS). Subsequent research by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revealed that from 1999-2000 to 2017-2018, blood levels of PFOA declined by 70%, and levels of PFOS declined by 85%.

Recently, the US Environmental Protection Agency has announced new, strict limits on the levels of six PFAS in drinking water – a first-of-its-kind regulation to help limit daily PFAS exposure Americans get from simply staying hydrated. Under this new regulation, local water officials will have five (5) years to test their systems and remove PFAS from the water to comply with the new limits. This is another important step, but really just the tip of the iceberg of unregulated, unstudied, forever chemicals that persist all around us. Effective regulation of forever chemicals should target the food and product sources of production and ensure PFAS are eliminated from that product cycle. Hopefully, we, as Americans, can continue to build on these initial regulations to eliminate PFAS from our food and hygiene products permanently. In the meantime, if you believe your health has been negatively impacted by exposure to PFAS, you should contact an experienced law firm to explore your rights.