Chemical Industry Players Attempt To Discredit EPA Limit on PFAS

Updated August 27, 2024

• Documents reviewed by the Guardian found that scientists with ties to the chemical industry are mobilizing attacks on new federal drinking water limits for toxic PFAS, also known as "forever chemicals."
• There is a long history going back decades of players for harmful industries denying scientific claims, producing controversial and fabricated research, and derailing government protections. Last month, toxicologist Michael Dourson, who received funding from chemical makers, shared a detailed plan with scientists, consultants, and lawyers to develop and publish science that discredited the EPA's PFAS limit from earlier this year. EPA staff claim Dourson and his team are engineering an ethically blurry plan to generate uncertainty and doubt around the actual science underpinning the PFAS limit. 
• Maria Doa, a former risk assessment manager at the EPA, said the plans did not offer a valid approach to science but rather are a legal strategy out of the industry playbook to unravel limitations. 

"They're trying to undermine the EPA's science, make it sound like there's uncertainty where there isn't and make it sound like there's disagreement within the scientific community where there's not."

What's the story?

• The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set legally enforceable PFAS limits in drinking water, marking a "historic" ruling in public health.
• PFAS are a group of dangerous compounds known as "forever chemicals" that experts believe contaminate drinking water for over 200 million Americans.
• The new EPA limit marks the first time in nearly three decades that the agency has established a drinking water standard. EPA administrator Michael Regan said this is the most important action the agency has ever taken on PFAS.

What are PFAS?

• PFAS, or poly-fluoroalkyl substances, is an umbrella term covering a class of about 9,000 compounds and human-made substances used to make products and materials resistant to water, heat, and stains. 
• They are frequently found in food packaging, cookware, waterproof clothing, cosmetics, mattresses, carpets, electronics, and countless other consumer goods. 
• PFAS leak out of these products, travel through wastewater, and contaminate natural water, soil, and air. The chemicals pollute the world's agricultural soil, drinking water reservoirs, and atmosphere. 

How does PFAS impact human health?

• It is difficult to identify the long-term health impacts of exposure to PFAS. A recent study by Stockholm University suggests that everyone on Earth is at risk of exposure and the unknown health effects.
• Studies have linked PFAS to various health issues so far, including liver damage, women's fertility and pregnancy issues, gestational diabetes, certain cancers, and lower immune system response. 
• Experts are especially concerned about how the chemicals impact children. Dr. Perry Elizabeth Sheffield of the New York State Children's Environmental Health Centers network and Mount Sinai explained: 

"While we think children, in particular, may be sensitive to negative health effects if exposed because they are still growing and developing, more information is needed."

What are the risks?

• While PFOS and PFOA (part of the PFAS group) have been banned or restricted in the U.S., their bioaccumulative effects make their existence in the environment persistent. 
• A 2021 study found that PFAS compounds contaminate the air inside homes, classrooms, and stores at alarming levels. Out of 20 indoor sites examined by researchers, 17 tested positive for PFAS in dust and air. Forever chemicals have also been found in the deep ocean, Antarctica, and even in humans, which has alarmed scientists and public health experts.
• More than 190 million chemicals are registered globally, and a new industrial chemical is created every 1.4 seconds on average. Despite the regulations and concerns, PFAS has been detected in nearly 75% of items labeled stain- or water-resistant, according to an analysis of popular brand-name products.

How to avoid exposure

• The EPA has created a list of more than 120,000 locations within the U.S. where exposure might be exceptionally high. The public is advised to avoid visiting these areas. 
• People who dine out frequently may have higher levels of PFAS in their blood due to takeout containers, even with eco-friendly or sustainable packaging.
• Dr. Monique May of UnitedHealth Group suggests families ask their local water utility company for information about PFAS levels in the water supply if they are concerned. Other steps include requesting the water to be tested, investing in water filters, and seeking out expertise in environmental medicine.

How do you feel about the new EPA limit?

-Jamie Epstein