On June 15, 2022, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
released new drinking water health advisories for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances
(PFAS). The EPA also announced $1 billion in funding to address PFAS and other
emerging contaminants in drinking water.
PFAS have been linked to infertility, thyroid problems, and
several types of cancer. Since the 1940s, chemical makers have used the highly
durable compounds to make nonstick cookware, moisture-repellent fabrics and
flame-retardant equipment. Most uses of PFAS were voluntarily phased out
by U.S. manufacturers, although there are a limited number of ongoing uses. PFAS
remain in the environment due to their extreme resistance to degradation.
The updated advisory levels, which are based on alleged new
science and consider lifetime exposure, indicate that some negative health
effects may occur with concentrations of PFAS in water that are near zero and
below the EPA’s ability to detect at this time. The new advisories cut the
safe level of PFAS by more than 17,000 times what the agency had previously
said was protective of public health, to now just four "parts per
quadrillion."
The agency’s new health advisories provide technical
information that federal, state, and local agencies can use to address PFAS in
drinking water. This includes water quality monitoring, optimization of
existing technologies that reduce PFAS, and strategies to reduce exposure to these
substances.
The EPA is preparing to propose mandatory standards for PFAS this fall. Once finalized, water utilities will be penalized if the standards are not met. The EPA is offering $1 billion in grants through the bipartisan infrastructure law to address drinking-water contamination. This is the first of $5 billion that can be used to reduce PFAS in drinking water in communities facing disproportionate impacts.
