Michelle Rotuno-Johnson, Patch Staff
NEW JERSEY — The Environmental Protection Agency gave water officials in New Jersey more information Tuesday on what they’ll have to do to reduce harmful PFAS, or “forever chemicals,” in water supplies.
PFAS, or per-and polyfluorinated substances, don’t degrade in the environment and are linked to a broad range of health issues, including low birthweight babies and kidney cancer. Drinking water is a significant way that people are exposed to PFAS across the nation and towns across New Jersey, the agency said.
The EPA said limiting these chemicals to the lowest level tests can detect will save thousands of lives and prevent serious illnesses, including cancer. This is the first time the EPA has proposed regulating a toxic group of compounds that are widespread, dangerous, and expensive to remove from the water.
The agency also estimates the rule could reduce PFAS exposure for nearly 100 million Americans, decreasing cancer rates, heart attacks, and birth complications.
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No state is untouched by PFAS contamination, according to a map compiled by the Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit organization sometimes criticized for exaggerating certain toxicity risks. But a growing body of scholarly and government research backs the assertion of both the EPA and EWG that, even at low levels currently, these chemicals can cause harm over a person’s lifetime.
PFAS can be found in water systems throughout the state, according to the EWG’s interactive map.
The Delaware Riverkeeper Network “wholeheartedly endorses” the EPA’s plan to propose national drinking water regulations for PFAS compounds. Deputy Director Tracy Carluccio said this action would “finally” protect Americans from exposure to toxic chemicals in their drinking water in a statement Tuesday.
“The science-based foundation developed by EPA for this rule provides incontrovertible evidence of the enormous risks to health posed by these PFAS compounds, including declaring both PFOA and PFOS to be “likely carcinogens,” said Carluccio. “The benefits calculated by EPA include the prevention of tens of thousands of deaths per year, making immediate action imperative. The federal rule has been a long time coming and we will advocate that the public rulemaking process move ahead on urgent footing.”
The Environmental Working Group has a large number of PFAS contaminations recorded in New Jersey on its site; these comprise quantities both above and below proposed limits and are found at schools, fire departments, water utility providers, and other locations around the state.
Cities or areas in New Jersey where PFAS contamination has been detected in the water supply include:
