EPA Announces Rollback of PFAS Drinking Water Limits Amid Controversy
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has revealed plans to weaken restrictions on certain harmful per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water, nearly a year after the Biden administration established first-ever national standards. Environmental activists note that these chemicals, commonly referred to as “forever chemicals,” have long contaminated air, water, and soil, linked to various health issues including kidney disease and certain cancers.
Initially, the Biden administration aimed to limit two prominent PFAS types, PFOA and PFOS, to 4 parts per trillion, arguing that no safe level exists. Under the new plans, the EPA will rescind limits on three lesser-known PFAS types, while extending compliance deadlines for PFOA and PFOS to 2031. This decision has met with backlash; environmental groups assert it violates the Safe Drinking Water Act, which prohibits weakening contaminant standards.
Industry reactions are mixed; while utility groups support certain regulatory changes, they express concerns that costs associated with PFAS compliance remain unchanged. This latest move indicates a shift in environmental policy under the current administration, continuing to spark heated debate over public health and regulatory transparency.
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