The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Friday that it is recommending hazardous designation for certain "permanent chemical" found in hundreds of household items that are contaminating drinking water systems across the country.
There are thousands of perfluoroalkyl substances and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) chemical. Since the 1940s, manufacturers have used the chemical to make paints and products that are waterproof, grease-proof, heat-resistant, and oil-resistant. The chemical break down slowly over time, leach into water and soil, and are found in the blood of people and animals.
The latest science shows that these chemical are far more dangerous to human health than scientists originally thought, and maybe thousands of times less dangerous than previously thought. Exposure to the chemical can cause reproductive problems, heart problems, respiratory problems, cancer, and immune system problems.
Epa's new proposal is to designate the two most widely used types of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid - perfluorooctanoic acid and perfluorooctane - as hazardous substances under Superfund regulations. The EPA said it would publish the proposed rules in the Federal Register in the coming weeks. That will give the public 60 days to comment before the rule can be finalized.
If the proposal is finalized, the release of these chemical would have to be reported to the government. The EPA believes this will encourage the companies to have better waste management practices at the facilities where they handle the chemical.
The rule could also make polluters pay fines and cleanup costs, the EPA said.
In June, the Environmental Protection Agency slashed recommended limits on these chemical. The EPA also issued its first final recommendation on the limits of the PFAS chemical GenX in drinking water.
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