Biden Administration Sets Standard To Limit The Presence Of 'Forever Chemicals' In Drinking Water

While in 2022, the EPA had issued health advisories that said the chemicals are 'much more hazardous to human health than scientists originally thought', until now, no federal standard on the chemicals in drinking water was in place.

After a study found potentially-toxic chemicals called 'PFAS' (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances) in surface and groundwaters in many parts of the world at levels that are much higher than what international regulators permit, the Joe Biden-led government in the United States has 'finalised the first national standard' to limit these dangerous chemicals that are reportedly found in 'nearly half of the drinking water' in the US. Environmentalists have hailed the decision as 'huge breakthrough' and 'historic', and one which may 'help protect human health'. According to a CNN report, the Biden administration's new standard is 'legally enforceable'. The news report suggests that water utilities in the country will now have to filter out five of more than 12,000 types of individual forever chemicals (PFOA, PFOS, PFNA, PFHxS and HFPO-DA, also known as GenX chemicals).

What Are These Chemicals And Why Are They Dangerous?

The chemicals are causing worldwide concern because they do not break down fully in the environment. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that PFAS are a 'group of manufactured chemicals' that have been used in industry and consumer products since the 1940s because of their 'useful properties'. Among the thousands of different PFAS, some have been 'more widely used and studied' than others. As mentioned earlier, a common 'characteristic of concern' of PFAS is that many of them break down 'very slowly' and build up in people, animals and the environment over time.

ALSO READ: Toxic 'Forever Chemicals' Found In Surface, Groundwaters Around The World At Dangerously-High Levels: Study

PFAS can be present in water, soil, air, food, and in materials found in homes or workplaces, including: drinking water; soil and water at or near waste sites; fire extinguishing foam; manufacturing or chemical production facilities that produce or use PFAS; food and food packaging; household products and dust; personal care products; and biosolids.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), these chemicals are linked to a variety of health problems including cancer, thyroid disease, reproductive problems and heart and liver damage, and are 'found in the blood of nearly 97 per cent of all Americans'.

A Federal Standard On The Chemicals

The CNN report stated that while in 2022, the EPA had issued health advisories that said the chemicals are 'much more hazardous to human health than scientists originally thought', until now, no federal standard on the chemicals in drinking water was in place. "I will tell you, five years ago, I was working really hard in states across the country that were interested in setting their own drinking water standards because we all believed that there was no way we were going to get a federal drinking water standard. I think it is a huge breakthrough in terms of action on PFAS," Dr Anna Reade, director of PFAS advocacy, environmental health at the environmental group NRDC, was quoted as saying.