On Wednesday, the Environmental Protection Agency announced plans to weaken restrictions on some harmful "forever chemicals" in drinking water about a year after the Biden administration completed its first national standard in history.
The Biden administration said last year's rules could reduce PFA exposure to millions of people. Then it was part of a broader push for the quality of drinking water by writing rules to remove toxic lead pipes, addressing the perpetual threat of chemicals after years of activist attention.
President Donald Trump seeks fewer environmental rules and more oil and gas development. EPA administrator Lee Zeldin implements the agenda by announcing a massive regulatory rollback.
Now we know that the EPA plans to remove certain PFA restrictions and extend the period for the two most common types. Here are some important things to do about PFAS chemicals and what EPA decides to do:
PFA, or perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a group of chemicals that have been around for decades and have now spread into the air, water and soil of the country.
They are made by companies like 3M, Chemours and others because they are very useful. They help the eggs slide through the non-stick skillet, make sure the fire foam suffocates the flames and helps clothes withstand rain and keep people dry.
However, chemicals resist decomposition, which means they stay around in the environment.
Environmentalists say PFA manufacturers are aware of the health hazards of PFA before they are made public. The same attributes that make chemicals so valuable - resist collapse - put them at risk from people.
PFA accumulates in the body, which is why the limit set for two common types (often called PFOA and PFO) is phased out of manufacturing at 4 parts per trillion cents, but still exists in the environment.
The health hazards associated with certain PFA exposure are now widespread. In addition to some cancers, cases of kidney disease, low birth weight and high cholesterol can be prevented by removing PFA from water.
With the development of scientific understanding, the guidelines for PFOA and PFO have undergone tremendous changes in recent years. For example, the 2016 EPA said that the total number of these two substances should not exceed 70 servings per trillion US dollars. The Biden administration later said no funds were safe.
The EPA program will limit three types of PFA restrictions, some of which are little known. They include Genx substances commonly found in North Carolina as well as substances called PFHXS and PFNA. There is also a limit on the mixture of PFA, which the agency plans to withdraw.
It seems that few utilities will be affected by the limitations of these types of PFAs. So far, sampling has found that nearly 12% of U.S. hydrographs exceed Biden administration restrictions. But most utilities face problems with PFOA or PFO.
For the two common types of PFOA and PFO, EPA will maintain current restrictions, but give utilities another two years (until 2031) to satisfy them.
Some environmental groups believe that EPA cannot legally weaken regulations. The Safe Water Drinking Act gives EPA the power to limit water pollutants, including a provision designed to prevent the new provision from being looser than previous provisions.
"The law is very clear that EPA cannot abolish or weaken drinking water standards," said Erik Olson, senior strategist at the nonprofit Natural Resources Defense Council.
Environmentalists often slam the EPA because the rules of the Biden-era era are not retained, which can worsen public health.
Industrial responses are different. The American Chemical Commission has questioned the basic science of the Biden administration, which supports strict rules and said the Trump administration has considered concerns about cost and basic science.
"However, EPA's actions only partially addressed the issue and more needs to prevent significant impacts on local communities and other unexpected consequences," the industry group said.
Leaders of two major utility groups of the American Water Factory Association and the Metropolitan Water Agency Association said they supported the EPA’s decision to revoke a new approach to limiting chemical mixing. But they also say that these changes do not significantly reduce the cost of PFA rules.
Mark White, a drinking water leader at engineering firm CDM Smith, said some utilities want higher limits on PFOA and PFO.
However, they did get expanded.
"This gives water professionals more time to deal with the bad people we know, and we will need more time. Some utilities are just finding out where they are now."