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June 8th, 2023
Cancer-causing “forever chemicals,” or PFAS, have been found in drinking water samples taken from public water systems throughout the state and, in many cases, at levels beyond proposed federal health standards. According to reporting from the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources and Department of Environmental Protection, based on testing from the U.S. Geological Survey, 27 out of 37 public water systems showed detectable levels of select PFAS (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances). Of those 27 drinking water samples, 19 had PFAS levels above at least one regulatory standard currently being proposed by the U.S. EPA. PFAS are industrial chemicals that don’t break down in the environment and accumulate in the human bloodstream.
While other states have enacted protections against PFAS, our West Virginia legislature has drug its heels on protecting West Virginians from these toxic chemicals, notwithstanding DuPont’s notorious poisoning of Wood County and other WV residents with PFOA. For now, it is being reported that the Bureau for Public Health and DEP are engaging with the 27 systems through a working group formed to evaluate treatment processes and identify funding options for PFAS removal.
In March, the EPA set a proposed standard of 4 parts per trillion (ppt) for two prominent PFAS: PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) and PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate) – the lowest levels at which the chemicals can be reliably quantified in water. Results of the Geological Survey study revealed levels above the proposed PFOA standard for these West Virginia water systems:
A 2022 Geological Survey report indicated that the Ohio River Valley is the most vulnerable West Virginia for PFAS contamination. Exposure to high levels of PFAS is associated with increased risks of cancers, high cholesterol levels, decreased vaccine response in children, and increased risks of high blood pressure, among other issues. If you believe you have been harmed through the ingestion of forever chemicals in your drinking water, you should contact an experienced law firm right away to explore your rights.
