EPA enforces cleanup of toxic forever chemicals for the first time
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For the first time, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is set to enforce a law requiring industries responsible for PFOA and PFOS contamination in water or soil to pay for cleanup efforts. This new rule aims to address the widespread contamination of water supplies and ecosystems by these toxic substances, which have been linked to serious health issues including cancer, decreased fertility in women, and developmental delays in children. It represents a significant step towards holding polluters accountable and protecting public health and the environment from these dangerous and hazardous chemicals.
Source
Smalling, K. L., Romanok, K. M., Bradley, P. M., Morriss, M. C., Gray, J. L., Kanagy, L. K., Gordon, S. E., Williams, B. M., Breitmeyer, S. E., Jones, D. K., DeCicco, L. A., Eagles-Smith, C. A., & Wagner, T. (2023). Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in United States tap water: Comparison of underserved private-well and public-supply exposures and associated health implications. Environment international, 178, 108033. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2023.108033
Additional Reading
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/apr/19/epa-forever-chemicals-law
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/19/climate/epa-pfas-superfund-cleanup.html