The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday released new warnings for synthetic pollutants in drinking water known as 'forever chemicals' saying the toxins can still be harmful even at levels so low they are not detectable.
Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.comWASHINGTON, June 15 - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday released new warnings for synthetic pollutants in drinking water known as "forever chemicals" saying the toxins can still be harmful even at levels so low they are not detectable.
Scientists have linked some PFAS to cancers, liver damage, low birth weight and other health problems. But the chemicals which do not break down easily, are not yet regulated.The agency is set to issue proposed rules in coming months to regulate PFAS. Until the regulations come into effect, the advisories are meant to provide information to states, tribes and water systems to address PFAS contamination.
The updated drinking water health advisories for perfluorooctanoic acid and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid replace ones EPA issued in 2016. The advisory levels, based on new science that considers lifetime exposure, indicate that some health problems may still occur with concentrations of PFOA or PFOS in water that are near zero and below EPA’s ability to detect.