EPA announces plans to regulate PFAS

But will it be sufficient?

Toxic threats

Gina Goldenberg

Former Creative Associate, Editorial & Creative Team, The Public Interest Network

The Biden administration has taken a big step in the right direction. The question is though, is it big enough?

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced its plans to regulate toxic PFAS chemicals Oct. 18. These protections include requiring chemical manufacturers to test and publicly report on the amount of PFAS chemicals in their products.

This is an important move toward our ultimate goal of banning toxic PFAS, but we need to make sure the EPA enacts the strongest regulations possible.

PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, refers to more than 4,000 man-made chemicals found in nonstick pans, tape and stain-resistant furniture. They’re used to increase a product’s resistance to heat, grease and water — but they’ve also been linked to a variety of health problems, including cancer, a weakened immune system and thyroid disease.

They’re called “forever chemicals” because it’s possible for them to accumulate in our bodies and the environment over time, which increases the risks to our health. The build up of PFAS has reached the point where babies are being born with levels of PFAS already inside them.

The EPA’s plan to mitigate the use of PFAS chemicals involves grouping them into 20 subcategories based on shared characteristics and requiring that manufacturers test their products for chemicals from each group by the end of 2021. In doing so, the EPA hopes to gather more data on over 2,000 chemicals that will help inform their future decisions.

While this roadmap contains several good incremental steps to address toxic PFAS, it does not set much in the way of goals to permanently phase out these toxic “forever chemicals.”

There is no reason why toxic chemicals linked to such serious health consequences should be in our household products, drinking water or anywhere near our bodies. And for far too long, lax standards have allowed a wide range of industries to put PFAS in their products.

The EPA holds the potential to end industrial use of PFAS that contaminates our environment and our bodies. Many states, from California to Maine, have taken matters into their own hands by enacting new state regulations on PFAS.

It’s time that the EPA takes strong federal action.

TELL THE EPA TO ENACT THE STRONGEST PFAS PROTECTIONS POSSIBLE

TELL THE EPA TO ENACT THE STRONGEST PFAS PROTECTIONS POSSIBLE

The Biden administration has announced its plans to regulate PFAS, but we need to ensure it enacts the strongest protections possible. Call on the EPA to phase out the use of toxic PFAS today.

Sign Up

Topics
Authors

Gina Goldenberg

Former Creative Associate, Editorial & Creative Team, The Public Interest Network

Find Out More