From Ann Wills

The Guardian,  22 Jan 2020  “US drinking water contamination with ‘forever chemicals’ far worse than scientists thought”

PFAS, resistant to breaking down in the environment, have been linked to cancers, liver damage, low birth weight & other health problems.  The contamination of US drinking water with man-made “forever chemicals” is far worse than previously estimated with some of the highest levels found in Miami, Philadelphia & New Orleans, said a report on Wednesday by an environmental watchdog group. The chemicals, resistant to breaking down in the environment, are known as perfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS (containing fluoride.)  Some have been linked to cancers, liver damage, low birth weight & other health problems. The findings here by Environmental Working Group (EWG) show the group’s previous estimate in 2018, based on unpublished US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) data, that 110 million Americans may be contaminated with PFAS, could be far too low. “It’s nearly impossible to avoid contaminated drinking water from these chemicals,” said David Andrews, a senior scientist at EWG & co-author of the report. The chemicals were used in products like Teflon & Scotchguard & in firefighting foam.  Some are used in other products & industrial processes, & their replacements also pose risks.  Of tap water samples taken by EWG from 44 sites in 31 states & Washington DC, only one location, Meridian, Mississippi, which relies on 700ft (215m) deep wells, had no detectable PFAS.  Only Seattle & Tuscaloosa, Alabama, had levels below 1 part per trillion (PPT), the limit EWG recommends.

EWG found that on average 6 to 7 PFAS compounds were found at the tested sites, & the effects on health of the mixtures are little understood. “Everyone’s really exposed to a toxic soup of these PFAS chemicals,” Andrews said.   In 34 places EWG’s tests found PFAS contamination had not been publicly reported by the EPA or state environmental agencies.   EPA has known since at least 2001 about the problem of PFAS in drinking water but has so far failed to set an enforceable, nationwide legal limit.  The EPA said early last year it would begin the process to set limits on 2 of the chemicals, PFOA & PFOS.    The EPA said it has helped states & communities address PFAS & that it is working to put limits on the 2 main chemicals but did not give a timeline.  In 2018 a draft report from an office of US Department of Health & Human Services said the risk level for exposure to the chemicals should be up to 10 times lower than the 70 PPT threshold the EPA recommends. The White House &  EPA had tried to stop the report being published.

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Ann