EPA Moves to Protect the Public from PFOA and PFOS in Drinking Water

WASHINGTON  — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or EPA Nov. 16,  asked the agency’s science advisory board or SAB to review draft scientific documents regarding the health effects of certain Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances or PFAS.  In its press release, EPA said it’s committed to science-based approaches to protect public health from exposure to Perfluorooctanoic acid or PFOA and Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid or PFOS, including by quickly updating drinking water health advisories with new peer-reviewed approaches and expeditiously developing National Primary Drinking Water Regulations for these contaminants.

EPA sent the science advisory board four draft documents with recent scientific data and new analyses that indicate that negative health effects may occur at much lower levels of exposure to PFOA and PFOS than previously understood and that PFOA is a likely carcinogen. The draft documents present EPA’s initial analysis and findings with respect to this new information. 

Following peer review, this information will be used to inform health advisories and the development of maximum contaminant level goals and a national primary drinking water regulation for PFOA and PFOS. The EPA is now seeking independent scientific review of these documents and it is making these draft documents available to the public to ensure a transparent evaluation of the information. 

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, signed by President Biden on Nov. 15, invests $10 billion to help communities test for and clean up PFAS and other emerging contaminants in drinking water and wastewater, and can be used to support projects in disadvantaged communities.

The EPA will continue to develop a proposed PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Regulation for publication in Fall 2022. 

Details: www.epa.gov/pfas.