Read the full article by Gregory B. Hladky (Hartford Courant)

“A state task force is recommending that all Connecticut public drinking water systems be regularly tested for hazardous PFAS chemicals and that private wells identified as high risk and all water bottled in this state also be tested for the pollutants.

Connecticut should also invest in expensive, high-tech instruments for the state laboratory to enable that agency to test for PFAS compounds, according to the report, and begin a ‘take back’ program to retrieve PFAS firefighting foam from more than 300 fire departments and training centers in this state.

‘Animals and humans can be exposed to PFAS by drinking contaminated water, eating contaminated fish and plants, and inhaling dust that contains PFAS,’ the report’s authors warn.

Several of the panel’s recommendations, including creation of a new state Safe Drinking Water Advisory Council charged with recommending safe levels of PFAS in drinking water, will require legislative action and additional state funding…

One of the report’s recommendations is for the state to ‘identify, evaluate and prioritize other potential sources of human exposure to PFAS, including fish and shellfish, agricultural products and food service ware.’

‘This is a serious health issue and we remain committed to working with the public and hearing from them on the issue,’ said the other task force co-chair, state Public Health Commissioner Renee Coleman-Mitchell…

PFAS pollution of drinking water has become a national issue, but there are currently no legally enforceable federal standards for this type of chemical pollution. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has issued recommended that safety levels for PFAS in drinking water should be no higher than 70 parts per trillion.

Many states have now established much tougher PFAS standards and some health experts say there is not yet enough scientific evidence to indicate what a safe level of these chemicals should be for drinking water…

The task force also recommended that the state evaluate whether it could require manufacturers to disclose any PFAS content in product labeling.

Another proposal from the panel is that Connecticut consider an ‘Extended Producer Responsibility’ program for manufacturers of products containing PFAS. Similar programs have been established for products like mattresses, making manufacturers responsible for disposal at the end of their product’s life span.”