First US drinking water standard for PFAS is proposed by the EPA.
The US Environmental Protection Agency issued a proposed rule that would establish legally enforceable drinking water standards for six per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). A significant step has been taken towards setting the first enforceable federal standard for PFAS under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). PFAS compounds have come to be known as “forever chemicals” due to their propensity to stay permanently in the environment and toxicity at incredibly low concentrations. EPA’s move is expected to profoundly affect treatment requirements for drinking water suppliers and remediation clean-up requirements across a wide swath of federal and state environmental programs. EPA’s Proposed Regulation National Primary Drinking Water Regulation for six PFAS would be established by the proposed rule: perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA) and its ammonium salt perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS) perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS) and mixtures of these PFAS. The regulation seeks to establish legally-enforceable Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) for these six PFAS in drinking water in the low parts per trillion—often called “non-detect” levels. In addition to enforceable levels, The EPA has concluded that PFOA and PFOS are probably carcinogenic to humans and has recommended MCLGs of 0.0 ppt. For any combination of PFNA, PFHxS, PFBS, and GenX Chemicals, the proposed MCLG is HI 1.0. These six chemicals that have been used in a variety of industries and consumer products, including firefighting foams, nonstick cookware, and waterproof clothing. If adopted, the proposed regulation will require public water systems to monitor for these chemicals. In addition, systems will be required to alert the public and lessen PFAS contamination if levels rise above the suggested regulatory limits. According to EPA, if fully implemented, the rule will, over time, prevent thousands of fatalities and lower the number of significant PFAS-related diseases by tens of thousands. This action establishes nationwide protection from PFAS pollution for all people, including environmental justice communities. In accordance with SDWA, the EPA Administrator must also submit a maximum contaminant level goal (MCLG) at the same time as the NPDWR. The MCLG is a non-enforceable public health objective that designates a point below which no known negative health impacts are anticipated. EPA is authorized to implement an NPDWR under SDWA based on its determination that these six PFAS may have severe effects on health, occur regularly and at levels that create public health concerns in public water systems, and that, in the Administrator’s sole discretion, their regulation affords a considerable opportunity for health risk reduction for those served by public water systems. According to EPA, if the rule is completely enforced, it will stop thousands of deaths and tens of thousands of significant PFAS-related diseases. The proposed drinking water standard for PFAS by the EPA would potentially affect a wide range of industries that use or have used PFAS in their products or processes. Some of the industries that could be impacted by the new standard include: Firefighting: PFAS-containing firefighting foams have been widely used for training and fire suppression, leading to PFAS contamination of soil and water. Chemical manufacturing: PFAS are used in the production of various chemicals, including plastics, coatings, and textiles. Consumer products: PFAS have been used in a wide range of consumer products, such as nonstick cookware, waterproof clothing, and food packaging. Electronics: PFAS are used in the production of semiconductors and other electronics components. Aerospace: PFAS-containing materials have been used in the aerospace industry for various applications, including fire suppression and hydraulic fluids. Automotive: PFAS are used in the manufacturing of some automotive components, such as brake pads and windshield wiper blades. Military: PFAS-containing firefighting foams have been used extensively by the military for training and fire suppression, leading to contamination of soil and water at military sites. The new drinking water standard would likely lead to increased regulation and scrutiny of these industries and their use of PFAS. Some industries may need to find alternatives to PFAS to comply with the new standard. However, some environmental and public health advocates have criticized the proposal, arguing that the MCL is not stringent enough to fully protect public health. These advocates have called for a more protective standard of 1 ppt or lower. The EPA is currently accepting public comments on the proposal, and a final decision is expected in 2024.
All you need to know about PFAS restrictions proposed to ECHA
On 12th January 2023, ECHA received PFAS restriction proposals from Germany, Norway, Denmark, and Sweden authorities in line with the EU’s Chemicals Strategy. The main goal is to reduce PFAS emissions into the atmosphere and make sure that the products are safe to use. The polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are available on ECHA’s website and they are currently reviewing and evaluating these proposals with respect to the environmental impact and risks caused to people. The environment, animals, and people will be affected if their releases are not restricted. If the PFASs are not restricted, 4.4 million tonnes of PFASs will be released into the environment. ECHA’s director said “Currently, there are five authorities working towards zero pollution plans with the agreement of the EU’s chemicals strategy. The scientific committees will begin their evaluation but evaluating thousands of substances poses many challenges”. ECHA’s scientific committees for Risk Assessment (RAC) and for Socio-Economic Analysis (SEAC) will start reviewing these proposals and checking if they satisfy the requirements of REACH. If it meets their requirements, they will start the evaluation process at the upcoming meeting in March 2023. RAC will provide an opinion on the proposals with respect to the reduction of risks to the environment and people’s health. The SEAC’s opinions will also be considered based on the costs incurred by society. Both committees’ opinions will be considered and will be sent to the European Commission who decides to restrict. Below are the next steps for PFAS restriction proposals: 13th Jan 2023 – Restriction Proposal Submitted to ECHA 7th Feb 2023 – Proposal made available on ECHA’s website 22nd Mar 2023 – Start of a six-month open consultation 5th Apr 2023 – Online information session ECHA committees’ evaluation ECHA’s committees adopt their opinions Opinions of ECHA’s committees sent to the European Commission We ensure that our clients are always in compliance with global regulations and always operate responsibly and sustainably. With our comprehensive solutions, organizations can comply with PFAS requirements, including assessments of their current compliance status, customized training programs to make sure employees remain knowledgeable about the latest regulations, and reporting services to ensure that all necessary documentation is completed accurately and timely. Call us today to learn more about PFAS ComplianceXL!