Pennsylvania sets drinking water standards on two ‘forever chemical’ PFAS compounds
There are no federal maximum contaminant levels for PFAS. Pennsylvania joins others states that have set their own.
There are no federal maximum contaminant levels for PFAS. Pennsylvania joins others states that have set their own.
The Lower Susquehanna Riverkeeper found high levels of chemicals known as PFAS in the Kreutz Creek Watershed in York County.
The Department of Environmental Protection found PFAS in about one-third of 114 Pennsylvania water systems.
Seven areas across the United States were selected for the national study funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.
On Tuesday, the Department of Environmental Protection presented a draft rule on PFAS standards for the state’s nearly 3,000 public water systems to EQB.
Studies at Rutgers and elsewhere are looking at possible links. The chemicals can cause serious health problems, including immune system effects.
With about 4,700 different PFAS, these ‘forever chemicals’ are a formidable issue to tackle. The Center for PFAS Solutions can test for 40 of them.
The agency said the three-year plan would prevent this class of toxic chemicals from being released into the environment and speed up the cleanup process.
Advocates with the Environmental Working Group want EPA’s plan to set standards for drinking water and groundwater cleanup, as well as to set limits on industrial discharges.