New national standard to limit PFAS in drinking water
The Environmental Protection Agency instituted a rule Friday that aims to limit the amounts of "forever chemicals" found in our drinking water.
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The Environmental Protection Agency instituted a rule Friday that aims to limit the amounts of "forever chemicals" found in our drinking water.
Environmentalists and public health advocates are calling this a breakthrough.
The chemicals are found in some make-up products, sunscreen, and other products that are treated to be waterproof, non-stick or stain resistant.
Those chemicals are called Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl - or PFAS.
Researchers say they don't break down completely, and linger in the environment and the human body.
The Centers for Disease Control says nearly 90 percent of Americans have these chemicals in their blood, and they could lead to serious health problems including cancer, kidney or liver damage for people with prolonged exposure.
Health experts say people can limit their exposure by avoiding stain and water-resistant products, and avoiding non-stick pans containing PFAS.
Also, filtering drinking water with activated carbon or reverse osmosis can help.
