The EPA Set Limits for PFAS in Drinking Water
For the first time, the Environmental Protection Agency established exposure limits for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances in drinking water. The substances, also known as PFAS, are called forever chemicals because they don’t degrade and are nearly impossible to destroy. This leads to them lingering permanently in air, water, and soil. PFAS are associated with higher risk of certain cancers, heart disease, high cholesterol, thyroid disease, low birth weight, and reproductive issues, including decreased fertility. PFAS are so prevalent that most people in the U.S have the chemicals in their blood, according to the Department of Health and Human Services.
The EPA announced last month that levels of PFOA and PFOS, which are PFAS typically found in nonstick or stain resistant products like food packaging and firefighting foam, cannot exceed four parts per trillion in public drinking water. Other PFAS including PFNA and PFHxS, as well as GenX chemicals, which are chemicals made to replace PFOA, will be restricted to 10 parts per trillion.
PFOA and PFOS are the most studied PFAS, according to the EPA. They started to be made by companies in the 1940s but were largely phased out of U.S. chemical and product manufacturing in the mid-2000s. They persist in the environment though and have been replaced by newer types of chemicals within the same class. The new limit created by the EPA is the lowest level that laboratories can reasonably detect and effectively treat. The agency still thinks the water systems should eliminate the chemicals since there is no safe level of exposure.
Eleven states have regulatory standards for PFAS in drinking water. Six to 10 percent of the country’s water systems will have to make changes to meet the new federal limits. Water systems that do not monitor for PFAS have three years to start. If PFAS are detected, they will have two more years to purchase and install new technologies to reduce PFAS in drinking water. The EPA estimates that these changes will prevent thousands of deaths and tens of thousands of serious illnesses.
One health concern related to PFOA is that it increases the risk of kidney cancer. High levels of PFOS also increase your risk of liver cancer. GenX chemicals, when studied in animals, have been shown to damage the liver, kidneys, and immune system and can lead to liver and pancreatic tumors. Studies show that PFNA exposure can lead to developmental issues and PFHxS can disrupt the thyroid system.
There was also a limit set for mixtures of at least two of the following chemicals: PFNA, PFHxS, PFBS, And GenX. There is an equation provided by the EPA to help determine what concentrations of these chemicals when combined is allowed. Limits to PFAS in drinking water were proposed last year with the ruling being official on Wednesday.
These limits do not eliminate PFAS in drinking water but they at least are a step in the right direction. One billion dollars in funding is available to help states and territories implement PFAS testing and treatment in public water systems and private wells. The money comes from the federal infrastructure law in 2021, which set aside $9 billion to address PFAS and other contaminants in water.
Some public water systems have sued companies that manufacture or previously manufactured PFAS. This holds them accountable for the costs of testing and filtering for PFAS. One lawsuit resulted in a $1.18 billion settlement for 300 drinking water systems nationwide. Another lawsuit awarded $10.5 billion to $12.5 billion, depending on the level of contamination found through 2036 for public water systems across the country.
The most common way to remove PFAS is through an activated carbon filter, which traps the chemicals as water passes through. There are other options like reverse osmosis or ion exchange resins, which help attract PFAS chemicals. It can take a long time to see positive impacts once PFAS are removed from water. It can take between two and eight years for our bodies to remove half of the chemicals.
Do you have cancer after being exposed to a toxic chemical? Contact us today to see if you could be entitled to compensation. Call 412-471-3980 or fill out our contact form and a member of our team will get back to you as soon as possible.
