The rule is the first national drinking water limit on toxic PFAS, or perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, which are widespread and long lasting in the environment.
The agency says it will reduce exposure for 100 million people and prevent thousands of illnesses, including cancer.
They are linked to a variety of health problems including cancer, thyroid disease, reproductive problems and heart and liver damage among other issues. The chemicals are found in the blood of nearly 97% of all Americans, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.that said the chemicals are much more hazardous to human health than scientists originally thought and are probably more dangerous even at levels thousands of times lower than previously believed.
Water treatment facilities will have three years to test for the chemicals and two years to purchase, install and operate the technologies that can filter out forever chemicals if they exceed the standard. Public water systems must inform people about the level of PFAS in the drinking water. Drinking water probably accounts for at least 20% of people's exposure to these forever chemicals, Andrews said, but it could be more depending on the water utility.
"This problem is so large," NRDC's Reade said. "Again, we shouldn't take away from the fact that this is just a really monumental step forward."
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