EPA release first-ever drinking water standard for 6 toxic PFAS

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released the first-ever national drinking water standard for six of the most studied and toxic PFAS compounds. 

The EPA is proposing to establish legally enforceable levels for six PFAS known to occur in drinking water. The proposed limits would regulate PFOA and PFOS as individual contaminants, with drinking water limits at 4 parts per trillion - the lowest level that laboratories can reliably measure. 

It will also regulate four other PFAS chemicals - PFNA , PFHxS , PFBS and HFPO-DA (GenX) - as mixtures. These had not originally been included in the proposal. If finalised, the proposal will require public water systems to monitor these chemicals.

It will also require systems to notify the public and reduce PFAS contamination if levels exceed the proposed limits.   

Read the full EPA statement here.