About half of people in America are toxic PFA in drinking water
New data released by EPA suggests that about half of the people in the US have toxic “Forever Chemicals,” or PFAS contaminated drinking water
Jacob wackerhausen/gati images
The recently released new data by the Environmental Protection Agency indicates that more than 158 million people in the US have toxic drinking water contaminated by “Forever Chemicals”, scientifically known as Perfluorocill and Perfluorocill and POFAs (PFA).
“Drinking water is a major source of PFAS exposure. The sheer number of contaminated sites suggests that these chemicals exist in most of the US water supply,” David Andrews, Deputy Director of Investigation and a senior scientist of the Environmental Working Group (EWG), a non -profit lawyer lawyer organization, a senior scientist, said a senior scientist in a senior scientist, a senior scientist, a senior scientist, one in a senior scientist, a senior scientist, a senior scientist, a senior scientist, one in a one A senior scientist said. Recently press release,
What are PFAS?
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More than 9,000 are known PFAS compounds, and more than 600 of them are used in a wide range of common products, from cookware to cosmetics, pesticides.
These compounds have a very strong carbon-fluorine bond, meaning they are extremely stable and useful for removing Greece and water. But the strength of that bond is also part of the fact that makes them a dangerous pollutant.
Why are PFAs dangerous?
Stability of PFAS molecules means that they do not easily biodegrades in the environment and can build it more for years and decades – so Monikar “chemicals” forever.
Many PFAS compounds have been linked to many health issues, including many cancer, reproductive disorders, thyroid disease, and a weak immune system. Testing by disease control and prevention centers indicates that 99 percent of people in the US, including newborns, are PFAs in their bloodstream.
Where did EPA get PFAS?
EPA requires American water utilities to test for 29 PFAS compounds. The latest results of that work suggest that 15 million more American residents are made aware of these compounds in their drinking water, which were reported in the previous update. More data is expected to be released in the coming months as only 57 percent of the water systems reported complete test results by March.
Currently available results bring the known number of people coming in contact with PFA to 158 million through drinking water, which is about half of the country’s total population. PFAS contamination has been found in drinking water in places in all 50 states, Washington, DC and four American regions.
How to get PFAS in the environment?
PFAs can enter the environment with pollutants discharged in rivers and lakes by industrial facilities, as well as fire fighting foams that leak into the ground. Experts are also concerned that PFAs containing pesticides are increasing contributions in the problem.
Does EPA regulate PFA?
In 2024, EPA finalized a rule to set a rule for six PFAS compounds in drinking water as part of a PFAS strategic roadmap prescribed under the Biden-Hyris administration. Rules provide three years of testing and for two years to remove PFA from drinking water. “This action will stop thousands of deaths and reduce thousands of serious diseases,” then EPA administrator Michael Regan said that during a call with reporters when the rules were announced in the last April.
In another rule, two most harmful PFAS, PFOA (perfluoroctanoic acid) and PFOs (perfluoroortanesulfonic acid) were called “dangerous substances”. This designation has allowed the agency to use superfund money to clean the contaminated sites.
It is unclear whether the current Trump administration may try to save or weaken those rules as part of a broad delegulatory campaign in EPA. Some states had PFAS rules, which were implemented to the EPA that the agency’s standards were canceled. But the test is going on that 53 million people in states will come in contact with the levels above the current EPA boundaries without PFAS rules.
How to avoid pfas
Some utilities already treat water for PFAs using filters that contain granulated active charcoal or reverse osmosis membranes. Some home filters are also designed to reduce the levels of PFAS, but regular filter replacement key, EWG, which has tested many filters, says.
