Read the full article by Monica Amarelo (Environmental Working Group)
“Today the Environmental Protection Agency finalized unprecedented new limits on the toxic ‘forever chemicals‘ known as PFAS as a way to tackle drinking water contamination. The proposal targets six PFAS – PFOA, PFOS, GenX, PFBS, PFNA and PFHxS. These are among the most protective health limits on PFAS in drinking water in the world.
The limits, known as maximum contaminant levels, or MCLs, are the highest level of a contaminant allowed in drinking water. In addition to weighing health, these limits take into consideration water treatment costs and feasibility. The MCLs announced are: 4 parts per trillion, or ppt, for PFOA and PFOS and 10 parts per trillion for GenX, PFNA and PFHxS. The EPA also set a hazard index, a tool the agency uses to address cumulative risks from mixtures of chemicals, for GenX, PFBS, PFNA and PFHxS.
‘More than 200 million Americans could have PFAS in their tap water and for decades Americans have been exposed to toxic ‘forever chemicals’ with no oversight from their government. That’s because for generations, PFAS chemicals slid off of every federal environmental law like a fried egg off a Teflon pan – until Joe Biden came along,’ said Environmental Working Group President Ken Cook. ‘Today’s announcement of robust, health protective legal limits on PFAS in tap water will finally give tens of millions of Americans the protection they should have had decades ago.'” …