This article in USA Today discusses the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) new national drinking water standards for PFAS chemicals, also known as “forever chemicals.” These standards aim to protect communities from exposure to harmful PFAS, which have been linked to various health issues, including reproductive and developmental effects, increased cancer risk, and immune system interference. The new regulations set maximum contaminant levels for individual PFAS chemicals like PFOA and PFOS at 4 parts per trillion (ppt) and for mixtures of certain PFAS chemicals at 10 ppt. The EPA’s initiative includes nearly $1 billion in funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to help states implement PFAS testing and treatment.
New Jersey, a state with significant PFAS contamination, supports the new federal standards and plans to take proactive measures to comply, such as increased monitoring and treatment. The state has a history of addressing PFAS contamination, having set its own standards in 2018 and taking legal action against corporations responsible for PFAS pollution. Despite these efforts, many water systems in New Jersey have exceeded state PFAS limits, leading to costly solutions and ongoing legal battles.
