https://www.npr.org/2024/02/02/1228540721/forever-chemicals-pfas-epa-hazardous

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The EPA is proposing that 'forever chemicals' be considered hazardous
substances A study by the U.S. Geological Survey found that the
man-made chemicals are present in nearly half the country's tap water
supply.

Health

The EPA is proposing that 'forever chemicals' be considered hazardous
substances

February 2, 20244:07 AM ET

By 

Ayana Archie

[ap23353824]
Enlarge this image

Eva Stebel, water researcher, pours a water sample into a smaller
glass container for experimentation as part of drinking water and
PFAS research at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Center For
Environmental Solutions and Emergency Response, Feb. 16, 2023, in
Cincinnati. Joshua A. Bickel/AP hide caption

toggle caption
Joshua A. Bickel/AP

Eva Stebel, water researcher, pours a water sample into a smaller
glass container for experimentation as part of drinking water and
PFAS research at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Center For
Environmental Solutions and Emergency Response, Feb. 16, 2023, in
Cincinnati.

Joshua A. Bickel/AP

The Environmental Protection Agency is proposing that nine PFAS, also
known as "forever chemicals," be categorized as hazardous to human
health.

The EPA signed a proposal Wednesday that would deem the chemicals
"hazardous constituents" under the Resource Conservation and Recovery
Act.

For the agency to consider a substance a hazardous constituent, it
has to be toxic or cause cancer, genetic mutation or the
malformations of an embryo. The full list of the nine substances can
be found here.

'Forever chemicals' could be in nearly half of U.S. tap water, a
federal study finds

Health

'Forever chemicals' could be in nearly half of U.S. tap water, a
federal study finds

The agency cited various studies in which forever chemicals were
found to cause a litany of "toxic effects" in humans and animals,
including, but not limited to cancer, a decreased response to
vaccinations, high cholesterol, decrease in fertility in women,
preeclampsia, thyroid disorders and asthma, the EPA said.

Short for "per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances," PFAS cover thousands
of man-made chemicals. PFAS are often used for manufacturing
purposes, such as in nonstick cookware, adhesives, firefighting foam,
turf and more.

PFAS have been called "forever chemicals" because they break down
very slowly and can accumulate in people, animals and the
environment. Last summer, a study by the U.S. Geological Survey found
that the man-made chemicals are present in nearly half the country's
tap water supply.

Artificial turf contains dangerous chemicals like PFAS -- and there's
no way to discard it safely

The survey tested for 32 types of PFAS, though there are more than
12,000, the USGS said, and they can pose a health threat even at very
small amounts.

In June, the chemical manufacturer 3M said it would pay about $10
billion in lawsuit settlements to help detoxify water supplies across
the country, after plaintiffs claimed the company's firefighting foam
and other products were responsible for contaminating tap water with
PFAS.

The proposed rule will be open for public comment once it is uploaded
to the Federal Register, under docket number EPA-HQ-OLEM-2023-0278.

  * PFAS
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  * tap water
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