INFORMATIONAL:
EPA Announces New Drinking Water Health Advisories for PFAS Chemicals
Earlier this week, the U.S. EPA released four drinking water health advisories for the dangerous class of “forever chemicals” known as PFAS (or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). These lifetime health advisories identify levels to protect all people from adverse health effects resulting from a lifetime of exposure to these PFAS in drinking water. These advisories are not binding regulations, but are meant to guide states and local officials in setting up monitoring and cleanup plans and policies. The advisory levels set by the EPA are low—0.004 parts per trillion (ppt) for PFOA and 0.02 ppt for PFOS—and make a strong statement that PFAS are dangerous for human health at any level.
In similar news, the Wisconsin Legislature is going to let state PFAS standards go into effect later this year for drinking water and surface water. The new state drinking water standard sets a combined level of PFOA and PFOS of 70 ppt, which is over 17,000 times higher than the new proposed EPA Health Advisory Level (WDNR and Department of Health Services scientists proposed 20 ppt). While the state drinking water standard is a step forward and will spur more monitoring and planning, it is much higher than what is necessary to protect the health of Wisconsinites, and doesn’t provide protection for those families drinking well water in Wisconsin.
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