The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on April 14 launched a new initiative to reduce contamination of so-called forever chemicals in drinking water nationwide.
Forever chemicals, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), are man-made chemicals used in industry and consumer products that persist in the environment for a long time. Exposure to PFAS is linked to several health issues, including cancers and negative effects on reproduction and immune function.
The PFAS OUT initiative aims to “reduce exposure to PFOA and PFOS in drinking water, years ahead of compliance with federal regulatory requirements,” the EPA said in an April 14 statement. PFOA and PFOS are types of PFAS chemicals. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified PFOA as carcinogenic to humans and PFOS as possibly carcinogenic….