EPA announces new PFAS limits

On Wednesday, April 10th, EPA Head and North Carolina native Michael Regan was in Fayetteville, North Carolina to announce the first ever legally enforceable limits for PFAS in drinking water across the United States. 

The regulation sets limits for 6 types of PFAS: PFOA, PFOS, GenX chemicals, PFNA, and PFHxS. According to North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ), more than 300 North Carolina water systems have PFAS levels over these new standards. NCDEQ will use federal funding provided through this new regulation to clean up systems contaminated with heightened levels of PFAS.

PFAS contaminate the drinking water of millions of Americans. Known as “forever chemicals” because they persist in the environment and human body, PFAS exposure, even in small amounts over time, is linked to serious health problems including cancer, thyroid disruption and reduced vaccine response, according to EPA.

“This is huge news and a historic investment in public health,” said Environment North Carolina Advocate, Emily Mason. “I, like many people, worry about what substances make it into my drinking water. Setting a standard for PFAS levels in our drinking water is a great first step, but the creation of PFAS is what establishes the problem we face, so we must find a way to phase out the use of PFAS in our products.”