The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently added two new chemicals to its list of "forever chemicals," meaning they do not break down naturally. These substances have been found to be used in the manufacturing of everyday products such as cooking utensils, furniture, and cosmetics. According to the British "Daily Mail," the EPA has classified both perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) as hazardous under the Superfund law, which requires industrial companies to pay for the cleanup of toxins that end up in water supplies during production.
Both substances are part of a larger group of chemicals known as PFAS, which can accumulate and persist in the human body for extended periods, and have been linked to cancer and organ damage. These actions will hold industries accountable for cleaning up and bearing the costs of chemicals that leach into soil and groundwater, potentially costing millions of dollars.
Lisa Frank, Executive Director of American Environmental Research and Policy, stated, "There are concerns that well water, farm products, or even clothing is contaminated with toxic chemicals." Forever chemicals have been used since the 1940s in industrial and consumer products, including non-stick cookware, water-resistant sports gear, stain-resistant carpets, and cosmetics. These compounds can easily enter the bloodstream when a person drinks contaminated water, wears certain products, or eats food cooked in utensils to which these chemicals have been added.
Once PFAS enters the bloodstream, it can settle within healthy tissues, potentially beginning to damage the immune system, liver, kidneys, and other organs. Other pollutants listed under the Superfund include lead, asbestos, and dioxins, a toxic substance found in herbicide production and paper bleaching, as well as soil biodistribution and radiation. The EPA has confirmed it will focus its enforcement efforts on companies and individuals who have significantly contributed to the release of these forever chemicals into the environment, such as federal agencies and companies that manufactured or utilized PFAS in their processes.
PFAS are referred to as "forever chemicals" because of their resistance to natural breakdown in the environment and their presence in drinking water, which should be "phased out, eliminated from discharge, and hold the chemical industry accountable for the harm caused to human health and the environment." This action follows the EPA's recent establishment of strict limits on the amount of PFAS that can be present in drinking water, setting it at four parts per trillion for both PFOA and PFOS.
The Biden administration has invested a billion dollars in EPA initiatives aimed at "reducing 100 million people's exposure to PFAS, preventing thousands of deaths, and reducing tens of thousands of serious illnesses." The American Chemistry Council (ACC), representing the chemical industries, has strongly opposed the EPA's action, describing it as "deeply flawed" and believing it "will undermine comprehensive efforts to address PFAS pollution." The council characterized the Superfund law as a costly, ineffective, and impractical means to address these chemicals, adding that it is "fraught with unintended consequences and likely to lead to widespread and unnecessary delays in cleanup operations," emphasizing the need to prevent the ubiquitous use of toxic PFAS compounds.
