EPA Issues PFOS, PFOA Health Advisories; Reactions Mixed, Enforceable Rule Still Option

摘要

The Environmental Protection Agency released voluntary benchmarks May 19 to guide local water systems, states and others in determining what concentration levels of certain highly fluorinated chemicals in drinking water are safe for public health. The EPA set the same benchmark-0.07 microgram per liter or 70 parts per trillion-in its two lifetime drinking water health advisories on perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). Individual or combined exposure to the chemicals, which were previously widely used in products like carpets to make them more water- or stain-resistant, could result in negative health effects including cancer, the agency said.