Minnesota regulators concluded after months of review that the current federal standards are insufficient to protect infants and small children from the chemicals’ health risks.
The state’s updated limits — half the level recommended by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency — reflect the latest scientific findings on the exposure and health effects of the two chemicals, known as PFOA and PFOS. They are among a class of chemicals called PFCs that were made for decades at a 3M Co. manufacturing site in Cottage Grove and were among the most widely used in the world.
The state’s updated limits — half the level recommended by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency — reflect the latest scientific findings on the exposure and health effects of the two chemicals, known as PFOA and PFOS. They are among a class of chemicals called PFCs that were made for decades at a 3M Co. manufacturing site in Cottage Grove and were among the most widely used in the world.
The much lower limits are designed to reduce long-term risks for fetuses, breast-fed infants and young children. That makes them overprotective for most people, health officials said Tuesday, and women who are breast feeding infants should continue to do so because the health benefits outweigh the risks, they said.
Now, Minnesota health officials say they are advising cities and homeowners to adopt a standard of 35 parts per trillion for PFOA and 27 parts per trillion for PFOS.