The Environmental Protection Agency announced its intention to relax regulations on certain persistent chemicals found in drinking water, known as forever chemicals, that were established last year. However, the standards for two common forever chemicals will remain unchanged.
Under the Biden administration, the first-ever federal limits for PFAS (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances) in drinking water were implemented. These chemicals were linked to increased risks of cardiovascular disease, certain types of cancer, and low birth weight in newborns. The introduction of these limits was projected to lower PFAS levels in drinking water sources serving millions of individuals.
PFAS are synthetic compounds that do not easily degrade in the environment. They are present in various everyday items such as non-stick cookware, firefighting foam, and water-resistant clothing.
Under the new rollback, limits on three types of PFAS, including GenX substances found in North Carolina, will be scrapped and reconsidered by the agency, as will a limit on a mixture of several types of PFAS.
The Biden administration’s rule also set standards for the two common types of PFAS, referred to as PFOA and PFOS, at 4 parts per trillion, effectively the lowest level at which they can be reliably detected. The EPA will keep those standards in place, but give utilities two extra years — until 2031 — to comply and treat for the chemicals.
“We are on a path to uphold the agency’s nationwide standards to protect Americans from PFOA and PFOS in their water. At the same time, we will work to provide common-sense flexibility in the form of additional time for compliance,” said EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin.
The development was first reported by The Washington Post.
Environmental groups slammed the move.
“With a stroke of the pen, EPA is making a mockery of the Trump administration’s promise to deliver clean water for Americans,” said Erik Olson, a senior strategic director of health at the nonprofit Natural Resources Defense Council.
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