In a significant policy shift, the Trump administration has announced its decision to maintain stringent limits on two common PFAS chemicals but plans to rollback regulations on four others, adjusting deadlines for compliance.
Trump Administration Eases Restrictions on PFAS in Drinking Water
Trump Administration Eases Restrictions on PFAS in Drinking Water
The Environmental Protection Agency announces changes to PFAS water standards, impacting millions of Americans.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) revealed on Wednesday that it would keep in place the drinking water standards for the two most prevalent PFAS—perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS)—which are found in the tap water of millions of US households. However, the agency will extend the deadline for water utilities to meet these standards from the original timeframe set by the Biden administration, pushing it back to 2031. In addition, the EPA will rescind the limits for four other related PFAS chemicals, commonly referred to as "forever chemicals" due to their persistent nature in the environment.
PFAS chemicals are widely utilized in consumer products, including nonstick cookware, water-repellent fabrics, and firefighting foams, resulting in widespread exposure. This group of substances has raised significant health concerns; exposure has been linked to various health issues, including metabolic disorders, reduced fertility in women, developmental delays in children, and an increased risk of cancers.
Under Biden's earlier initiative, water suppliers were mandated to significantly reduce the concentrations of six types of PFAS chemicals, with strict guidelines for PFOA and PFOS capped at four parts per trillion. Despite the rollback, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin asserted, “We are on a path to uphold the agency’s nationwide standards to protect Americans from PFOA and PFOS in their water.” He affirmed the agency's commitment to holding polluters accountable while offering "common-sense flexibility" in the timeframe for compliance.
PFAS chemicals are widely utilized in consumer products, including nonstick cookware, water-repellent fabrics, and firefighting foams, resulting in widespread exposure. This group of substances has raised significant health concerns; exposure has been linked to various health issues, including metabolic disorders, reduced fertility in women, developmental delays in children, and an increased risk of cancers.
Under Biden's earlier initiative, water suppliers were mandated to significantly reduce the concentrations of six types of PFAS chemicals, with strict guidelines for PFOA and PFOS capped at four parts per trillion. Despite the rollback, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin asserted, “We are on a path to uphold the agency’s nationwide standards to protect Americans from PFOA and PFOS in their water.” He affirmed the agency's commitment to holding polluters accountable while offering "common-sense flexibility" in the timeframe for compliance.
