Biden administration to restrict ‘forever chemicals’ in drinking water

WASHINGTON

The Biden administration proposed Tuesday the first nationwide restrictions on “forever chemicals” in drinking water.

The chemicals, known as polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), have been linked to serious health issues, including cancer, in those exposed to them for a long time.

“The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to ensuring every community has access to clean drinking water, free of chemicals and pollutants that harm the health and wellbeing of children, families, and communities,” the White House said in a statement, hailing the proposal as “a major step to advance that commitment”.

The proposal by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will require public water systems to “monitor for six PFAS chemicals, notify the public if the levels of these PFAS exceed the proposed regulatory standards, and take action to reduce the level of PFAS in the water supply”, according to the statement.

The restrictions will prevent thousands of deaths and eliminate tens of thousands of illnesses, it said.