Potentially toxic chemicals called PFAS (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are found in surface and groundwaters around the world at levels much higher than many international regulators allow, a new study found.
Called “forever chemicals” because they fail to break down fully in the environment, PFAS have been used since the 1950s to make consumer products nonstick, oil- and water-repellent and resistant to temperature change.
Even in locations with no known source of contamination, 31% of ground water samples exceeded threshold limits proposed in March 2023 by the US Environmental Protection Agency, according to the study, and nearly 70% exceeded standards set by Health Canada.
The EPA proposal, soon expected to be finalized, set a specific limit of 4 parts per trillion for two older legacy chemicals, perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), while also setting new limits for a mixture of four chemicals developed by industry to replace them.