Tag: forever-chemicals

WASHINGTON – New data released by the Environmental Protection Agency shows an additional 6.5 million Americans have drinking water contaminated by the toxic “forever chemicals” known as PFAS. It brings the total number of people at risk of drinking this contaminated tap water to about 165 million across the U.S. 

That’s a 4% increase in the number of Americans with verified PFAS-polluted water in just the last few months. Exposure to PFAS is linked to cancer, reproductive harm, immune system damage and other serious health problems, even at low levels. 

“It is impossible to ignore the growing public health crisis of PFAS exposure. It’s detectable in nearly everyone and it’s found nearly everywhere, including the drinking water for a huge segment of the population,” said David Andrews, Ph.D., acting chief science officer at the Environmental Working Group.

“The documented extent of PFAS contamination of the country’s water supply highlights the enormous scale of contamination,” he added.  

The EPA’s new findings come from tests of the nation’s drinking water supply conducted as part of the Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule, or UCMR 5, which requires U.S. water utilities to test drinking water for 29 individual PFAS compounds.

Protections under threat

In 2024, the EPA finalized first-time limits on six PFAS in drinking water, which help tackle forever chemicals contamination – but these standards are now at risk.

The EPA has said it will roll back limits on four PFAS in drinking water, leaving those chemicals unregulated. It plans to only retain standards for the  two most notorious chemicals, PFOA and PFOS. These maximum contaminant levels or MCLs, set enforceable standards for the amount of contaminants allowed in drinking water. 

Even with keeping the PFOA and PFOS MCLs in place, rolling back the four other limits will make it harder to hold polluters responsible and ensure clean drinking water.

In addition, the EPA’s plan to reverse the four science-based MCLs likely contradicts an anti-backsliding provision in the Safe Drinking Water Act. That law requires any revision to a federal drinking water standard “maintain, or provide for greater, protection of the health of persons.”

“It’s worrying to see the EPA renege on its commitments to making America cleaner and safer, especially as it ignores its own guidelines to do so,” said Melanie Benesh, EWG’s vice president for government affairs.

Widespread PFAS pollution 

The Trump administration’s PFAS standards rollback could grant polluters unchecked freedom to release toxic forever chemicals into U.S. waterways, endangering millions of Americans.

EWG estimates nearly 30,000 industrial polluters could be discharging PFAS into the environment, including into sources of drinking water. Restrictions on industrial discharges would lower the amount of PFAS ending up in drinking water sources.

“Addressing the problem means going to the source. For PFAS, that’s industrial sites, chemical plants and the unnecessary use of these chemicals in consumer products,” said Andrews. 

Health risks of PFAS exposure

PFAS are toxic at extremely low levels. They are known as forever chemicals because once released into the environment, they do not break down and can build up in the body. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has detected PFAS in the blood of 99 percent of Americans, including newborn babies. 

Very low doses of PFAS have been linked to suppression of the immune system. Studies show exposure to PFAS can also increase the risk of cancer, harm fetal development and reduce vaccine effectiveness. 

For over 30 years, EWG has been dedicated to safeguarding families from harmful environmental exposures, holding polluters accountable and advocating for clean, safe water.

“Clean water should be the baseline,” Andrews said, “The burden shouldn’t fall on consumers to make their water PFAS-free. While there are water filters that can help, making water safer begins with ending the unnecessary use of PFAS and holding polluters accountable for cleanup.” 

For people who know of or suspect the presence of PFAS in their tap water, a home filtration system is the most efficient way to reduce exposure. Reverse osmosis and activated carbon water filters can be extremely effective at removing PFAS. 

EWG researchers tested the performance of 10 popular water filters to evaluate how well each reduced PFAS levels detected in home tap water. 

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The Environmental Working Group is a nonprofit, non-partisan organization that empowers people to live healthier lives in a healthier environment. Through research, advocacy and unique education tools, EWG drives consumer choice and civic action.

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https://www.ewg.org/news-insights/news-release/2025/06/new-epa-data-shows-165m-people-exposed-forever-chemicals-us?

PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals,” have emerged as a serious environmental and public health threat due to their persistence and widespread contamination. These man-made chemicals, widely utilized in consumer and industrial products since World War II, are now linked to alarming levels of contamination in drinking water supplies and health risks ranging from cancers to liver toxicity to reduced fertility. 

Following decades of litigation, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 2024 finally set legally enforceable levels for six PFAS chemicals in drinking water, requiring public water systems to monitor for the substances, report findings to customers, and take steps to reduce contamination. However, those regulations were partially rolled back in May 2025. 

In this Q&A, two Yale experts delve into the challenges posed by PFAS and potential solutions for reducing exposure and contamination. Vasilis Vasiliou is Department Chair and Susan Dwight Bliss Professor of Epidemiology at Yale School of Public Health (YSPH). Robert Bilott is an environmental attorney and serves as a lecturer with the YSPH Department of Environmental Health Sciences. Bilott’s story and landmark case against chemical giant DuPont were recounted in his book, “Exposure: Poisoned Water, Corporate Greed, and One Lawyer’s Twenty-Year Battle Against DuPont,” and were the basis for the 2019 motion picture “Dark Waters,” starring Mark Ruffalo. 

This interview was edited and condensed for clarity. 

What are PFAS? 

BILOTT: PFAS stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. They are a completely man-made family of chemicals created around the time of World War II. These chemicals, formed by artificially connecting carbon and fluorine, are known for their strength, stain resistance, grease protection, and water resistance. They are used in a wide variety of products, and there are now estimates of up to 14,000 different PFAS compounds. 

Why are PFAS called ‘forever chemicals?’ 

VASILIOU: PFAS are often called ‘forever chemicals’ because they contain an exceptionally strong carbon-fluorine bond, which makes them highly resistant to breakdown. As a result, they persist in the environment for decades or longer—in water, soil, and even living organisms. Their environmental and biological persistence means they can accumulate over time, raising long-term concerns for ecosystems and public health. 

What consumer or industrial products contain PFAS? 

BILOTT: PFAS have been used in an incredible array of consumer and commercial products since the 1940s. Common products containing PFAS include non-stick cookware, carpeting, clothing, fast food wrappers and packaging, computer chips, toilet paper, and waterproof cosmetics. Keywords like stain-resistant, waterproof, grease-resistant, and non-stick often indicate the presence of PFAS. These chemicals were not listed on ingredient lists or labels, and many companies were unaware they were using them. 

What are the known health risks associated with PFAS? 

VASILIOU: PFAS are linked to various cancers such as kidney, testicular, and liver cancer, as well as liver toxicity. There is a rising incidence of early-onset cancers, like colon and liver cancer, in younger individuals, potentially due to developmental exposure. Developmental and reproductive effects of PFAS include low birth weight, accelerated puberty, reduced fertility, and pregnancy-induced hypertension, with possible epigenetic changes that might contribute to early-onset cancers. PFAS also impair the immune system, reducing vaccine effectiveness and potentially increasing susceptibility to infections like COVID-19. Additionally, PFAS exposure is linked to various metabolic effects such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, reduced kidney function, high cholesterol, colitis, and neurodegenerative issues in children. 

By some estimates, 90% of drinking water in the U.S. contains PFAS. How did that happen? 

BILOTT: PFAS contamination in drinking water primarily comes from aqueous film-forming foam, or AFFF—the firefighting foam that was developed during the Vietnam War to extinguish petroleum-based fires. This foam contains high concentrations of C-8 PFAS chemicals known as PFOA and PFOS that have been widely used by military organizations, airports, and fire stations globally since the 1960s. The people buying and using it were not informed about its PFAS content and were misled about its safety, which led to widespread environmental contamination. 

Has a safe level for PFAS chemicals been identified? 

BILOTT: No one has identified a safe level of PFAS chemicals. Companies like 3M and DuPont set internal safety guidelines for their employees decades ago, but this information was withheld from government agencies and scientists until much later. Studies have revealed that PFAS are persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic, affecting multiple organ systems and potentially reducing vaccine effectiveness. The EPA has set very low drinking water standards, aiming for no more than four parts per trillion and ideally zero for PFOA and PFOS, which are now recognized as human carcinogens. 

VASILIOU: PFAS chemicals are not metabolized by the body, unlike many other environmental contaminants. Because they resist breakdown and are only slowly excreted, they accumulate in human tissues—especially in the blood, liver, and kidneys—over time. This bioaccumulation contributes to a range of toxic effects, including immunotoxicity, endocrine disruption, and increased risk of kidney and testicular cancer. Given their extreme persistence and potential for harm even at very low levels, efforts to establish safe exposure limits increasingly aim toward zero. 

Can the human body repair damage caused by PFAS? 

VASILIOU: The human body has some ability to repair tissue damage, but with PFAS, this process is complicated by the chemicals’ persistence. PFAS remain in the body for years and can interfere with normal repair mechanisms by promoting inflammation, oxidative stress, and immune dysfunction. Even if some tissues, like the liver, can regenerate, ongoing internal exposure means that damage may continue, making full recovery difficult—especially with chronic or high-level exposures.

Are any PFAS chemicals regulated? 

BILOTT: In 2024, the first federal nationwide regulations for PFAS chemicals were adopted by the EPA, setting drinking water standards and declaring two C-8 PFAS as hazardous under federal Superfund law. The process took decades, with companies pushing back and fighting regulation in courts. States like New Jersey, Minnesota, and Connecticut have also moved forward with regulations, which are facing legal challenges from manufacturers. In Europe, proposed global bans on PFAS face significant opposition due to economic impacts.

What technologies exist to remove PFAS from drinking water? 

VASILIOU: Activated carbon and reverse osmosis are the primary technologies to remove PFAS, though reverse osmosis is very expensive for individual homes. Yale engineers are working on innovative solutions, such as membranes and methods to break down PFAS chemicals.

Who is going to pay for cleaning up PFAS contamination? 

BILOTT: Our law firm represents hundreds of cities seeking compensation from companies like 3M and DuPont, who created the chemicals. These cases are part of the aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) multidistrict litigation in South Carolina. Recently, significant settlements totaling over $14 billion from companies like 3M, DuPont, BASF, and Tyco have been reached to help public water systems clean up PFAS. The federal government has allocated $10 billion for this purpose but that is taxpayer money. We are working to ensure the responsible companies pay for the cleanup. 

How does someone know if PFAS is present in their drinking water or consumer products? 

BILOTT: It’s not always easy. For public water systems, sampling is starting to be required and information may be available in quarterly reports to customers. But many districts haven’t started testing yet. The Environmental Working Group created an interactive map showing where testing has occurred and what the levels are. For consumer products, there’s a lot less information. PFAS were not listed on ingredient labels or material safety data sheets, and even manufacturers might not have known they were using PFAS. Some groups are now testing products for PFAS, and products labeled with buzzwords like waterproof, stain-resistant, non-stick, and grease-proof might contain PFAS. Consumer demand has led some companies to commit to PFAS-free products, but definitions and detection levels vary so that is causing mass confusion in the market. 

What can the average person do about the PFAS problem? 

VASILIOU: Individuals can reduce their PFAS exposure by avoiding products such as older non-stick cookware, water-resistant clothing, stain-proof textiles, and certain cosmetics that may contain PFAS. It’s also important to be informed about your drinking water—use certified filters that are effective against PFAS and consult local or state resources for water quality information, including bottled water when available. Beyond personal choices, civic engagement plays a powerful role. Raising awareness, supporting legislation, and demanding transparency from manufacturers and regulators can drive meaningful, large-scale change 

BILOTT: An individual can make a huge difference by standing up, speaking out, and demanding change. It may take a while, but as you see in the story of “Dark Waters,” individuals speaking out are having a huge impact. Laws are being proposed and passed to restrict these chemicals. Some of the biggest companies on the planet are now committing to getting out of PFAS. That only happened by individuals saying ‘we don’t want this.’ 

What is Yale doing? 

Yale is committed to making the university a healthy and productive place to live, work, and study. We are reducing the amount of harmful chemicals on campus through healthy furniture standards to reduce the amount of chemicals of concern in the materials we purchase to furnish our buildings. The Yale School of Public Health is leading groundbreaking research into the human health impacts of PFAS, analyzing their role in cancer cell migration, liver damage, and pregnancy loss. The Yale School of Engineering and Applied Sciences is developing technologies to separate and destroy PFAS at water treatment facilities and other locations.

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https://sustainability.yale.edu/explainers/yale-experts-explain-pfas-forever-chemicals?

EPA intends to provide regulatory flexibility and holistically address these contaminants in drinking water 

Contact Information

EPA Press Office (press@epa.gov)

WASHINGTON – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin announced the agency will keep the current National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (NPDWR) for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), which set nationwide limits for these “forever chemicals” in drinking water. The agency is committed to addressing Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water while following the law and ensuring that regulatory compliance is achievable for drinking water systems. 

“The work to protect Americans from PFAS in drinking water started under the first Trump Administration and will continue under my leadership,” said EPA Administrator Zeldin. “We are on a path to uphold the agency’s nationwide standards to protect Americans from PFOA and PFOS in their water. At the same time, we will work to provide common-sense flexibility in the form of additional time for compliance. This will support water systems across the country, including small systems in rural communities, as they work to address these contaminants. EPA will also continue to use its regulatory and enforcement tools to hold polluters accountable.” 

As part of this action, EPA is announcing its intent to extend compliance deadlines for PFOA and PFOS, establish a federal exemption framework, and initiate enhanced outreach to water systems, especially in rural and small communities, through EPA’s new PFAS OUTreach Initiative (PFAS OUT). This action would help address the most significant compliance challenges EPA has heard from public water systems, members of Congress, and other stakeholders, while supporting actions to protect the American people from certain PFAS in drinking water.  

Paired with effluent limitations guidelines (ELGs) for PFAS and other tools to ensure that polluters are held responsible, EPA’s actions are designed to reduce the burden on drinking water systems and the cost of water bills, all while continuing to protect public health and ensure that the agency is following the law in establishing impactful regulations such as these. 

EPA is also announcing its intent to rescind the regulations and reconsider the regulatory determinations for PFHxS, PFNA, HFPO-DA (commonly known as GenX), and the Hazard Index mixture of these three plus PFBS to ensure that the determinations and any resulting drinking water regulation follow the legal process laid out in the Safe Drinking Water Act. 

Regulatory Protection with Flexibility and Cost Savings   

On April 10, 2024, EPA announced the final National Primary Drinking Water Regulation, including standards for PFOA and PFOS. At that time, EPA established legally enforceable levels for these PFAS in drinking water and gave public water systems until 2029 to comply with the Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs). 

To allow drinking water systems more time to develop plans for addressing PFOA and PFOS where they are found and implement solutions, EPA plans to develop a rulemaking to provide additional time for compliance, including a proposal to extend the compliance date to 2031. EPA plans to issue a proposed rule this fall and finalize this rule in the Spring of 2026. Aligned with the agency’s intent to provide additional compliance time for water systems, EPA encourages states seeking primacy for implementing the PFAS drinking water regulation to request additional time from EPA to develop their applications. At the same time, EPA will support the U.S. Department of Justice in defending ongoing legal challenges to the PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Regulation with respect to PFOA and PFOS.  

“EPA has done the right thing for rural and small communities by delaying implementation of the PFAS rule. This commonsense decision provides the additional time that water system managers need to identify affordable treatment technologies and make sure they are on a sustainable path to compliance. NRWA greatly appreciates this reasonable and flexible approach, and we look forward to partnering with the agency’s PFAS OUTreach Initiative to help ensure water systems have the resources and support they need,” said National Rural Water Association CEO Matthew Holmes.  

“ASDWA supports EPA’s proposed approach to the PFAS regulation to extend the compliance date for systems by an additional two years. With the current compliance date of 2029, states and water systems are struggling with the timeframes to complete the pilot testing, development of construction plans, and building the necessary treatment improvements. EPA’s proposed extension of the compliance date and increased technical assistance will address the number of systems that would be out of compliance in 2029 due to not being able complete all of these tasks on time,” said Association of State Drinking Water Administrators Executive Director Alan Roberson. 

Enhancing Communication and Outreach  

To enhance engagement on addressing PFAS, EPA will launch PFAS OUT to connect with every public water utility known to need capital improvements to address PFAS in their systems, including those EPA has identified as having PFOA and PFOS levels above EPA’s MCL. EPA will share resources, tools, funding, and technical assistance to help utilities meet the federal drinking water standards. PFAS OUT will ensure that no community is left behind as we work to protect public health and bring utilities into compliance with federal drinking water standards. PFAS OUT will engage utilities, technical assistance providers and local, State, Tribal, and Territorial leaders to develop effective, practical solutions where they are needed most. 

EPA will continue to offer free water technical assistance (WaterTA) that provides services to water systems to improve their drinking water and help communities access available funding. EPA’s WaterTA initiatives work with water systems nationwide to identify affordable solutions to assess and address PFAS, including PFOA and PFOS. Services offered to utilities include water quality testing, development of technical plans, operator training support, designing public engagement and outreach strategies, and support for accessing federal funding opportunities.   

Holding Polluters Accountable  

Drinking water systems are passive receivers of PFOA and PFOS. Polluters can contaminate the surface waters or aquifers that these systems rely on to provide the drinking water to their communities. As announced by Administrator Zeldin, EPA intends to take a number of actions to reduce the prevalence of PFAS in the environment, including in sources of drinking water. Progress reducing concentrations of PFAS in drinking water sources can substantially reduce the cost burden for water systems and reduce the cost of living for the communities they serve. 

A Record of Leadership   

Administrator Zeldin’s leadership on PFAS dates back to his time in Congress, where he was a founding member of the PFAS Congressional Taskforce and a strong supporter of the PFAS Action Act, legislation to provide funding to support local communities cleaning up PFAS-contaminated water systems. He was, and remains, a staunch advocate for protecting Long Islanders and all Americans from contaminated drinking water.    

In the process of developing and taking action on a number of these items, Administrator Zeldin personally heard from members of Congress on passive receiver issues where local water utilities will foot the bill for contamination and pass those costs onto consumers. This mindset and the need for a polluter pays model has guided a lot of the work to be done at EPA in the future.  

Background    

On April 28, 2025, Administrator Zeldin announced a long list of actions to combat PFAS contamination that included in part the designation of an agency lead for PFAS, the development of ELGs for certain PFAS to reduce discharges to waterways including upstream of drinking water systems, and initiatives to engage with Congress and industry to establish a clear liability framework that ensures passive receivers and consumers are protected. This list is the first, not the last, of all decisions and actions EPA will be taking to address PFAS over the course of the Trump Administration. There will be more to come in the future across EPA’s program offices to help communities impacted by PFAS contamination.  

During President Trump’s first term, EPA convened a two-day National Leadership Summit on PFAS in Washington, D.C. that brought together more than 200 federal, state, and local leaders from across the country to discuss steps to address PFAS. Following the Summit, the agency hosted a series of visits during the summer of 2018 in communities directly impacted by PFAS. EPA interacted with more than 1,000 Americans during community engagement events in Exeter, New Hampshire, Horsham, Pennsylvania, Colorado Springs, Colorado, Fayetteville, North Carolina, and Leavenworth, Kansas, as well as through a roundtable in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and events with tribal representatives in Spokane, Washington.  

In 2019, the Trump EPA announced the PFAS Action Plan. This historic Plan responded to extensive public interest and input the agency received and represented the first time EPA built a multi-media, multi-program, national communication and research plan to address an emerging environmental challenge like PFAS. EPA’s Action Plan identified both short-term solutions for addressing these chemicals and long-term strategies that will help provide the tools and technologies states, tribes, and local communities need to provide clean and safe drinking water to their residents and to address PFAS at the source—even before it gets into the water. 

EPA supports water systems in reducing PFAS and emerging contaminants (EC) in drinking water through a range of funding resources. Federal funding opportunities include the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) program, the EC Small or Disadvantaged Communities (EC-SDC) grant program, and funding resources, like EPA’s Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) program, that can be leveraged to provide supplemental, flexible, low-cost credit assistance to public and private borrowers. 

For information about the PFAS Rule, visit Final PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Regulation and Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) NPDWR Implementation. For more information about PFAS Technical Assistance, visit EPA Water Technical Assistance. You can also Request EPA WaterTA services for your community.  

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https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-announces-it-will-keep-maximum-contaminant-levels-pfoa-pfos?