EPA Announces First-Ever Regulations , for PFAS in Drinking Water.
On April 10, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it is issuing a country-wide regulation to limit the amount of "forever chemicals" in drinking water, CBS News reports.
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are commonly found in the air, water and soil.
According to the EPA, there is no amount of exposure to PFAS that is considered safe.
They can be found in everything from
nonstick cookware to cleaning and personal
care products. But there's no doubt that
many of these chemicals can be harmful
to our health and our environment, EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan, via statement.
Exposure to PFAS has been linked to reproductive
problems, developmental delays, low birth weight,
immune system issues, high cholesterol, cardiovascular
issues and some cancers, CBS News reports. .
Public water utilities will now be required to
"test for six different types of PFAS chemicals"
in drinking water, CBS News reports.
The agency estimates that the new requirement will lower exposure to
PFAS for about 100 million people. .
Drinking water contaminated with
PFAS has plagued communities
across this country for too long, EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan, via statement.
$1 billion will be made available to help states
and territories comply with the new standards.
Those funds are part of a $9 billion investment generated by the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
President Biden believes that
everyone deserves access to clean,
safe drinking water, and he is
delivering on that promise, Brenda Mallory, Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality, via statement