Safeguarding Public Health from PFAS

In October 2021, the EPA unveiled its PFAS Strategic Roadmap, a comprehensive plan to tackle the pervasive issue of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), often referred to as “forever chemicals.” This roadmap outlines the EPA’s commitment to a "whole-of-agency approach", focusing on three central directives: research, restrict, and remediate. By investing in scientific research, the EPA aims to deepen our understanding of PFAS and their impacts on human health and the environment. The roadmap also emphasizes proactive measures to prevent PFAS from entering air, land, and water, and accelerating cleanup efforts to protect communities across the United States. 

EPA has made significant strides in addressing the issue of PFAS and their new progress report highlights key accomplishments under the national strategy to confront PFAS in communities across the country.

Here are the key highlights from the EPA’s recent progress report:

• First-ever nationwide standards: In 2024, the EPA introduced legally enforceable drinking water standards for PFAS, aiming to reduce exposure for approximately 100 million people.
• Data collection: The EPA is conducting the largest nationwide effort to understand PFAS levels in drinking water, covering around 10,000 water systems.
• $10 billion investment: Through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, significant funds are allocated to remove PFAS from water, with a focus on installing new infrastructure and treatment technologies.
• Polluter accountability: The EPA finalized a rule designating PFOA and PFOS as hazardous substances, ensuring that polluters, not taxpayers, bear the cleanup costs.
• Regulatory actions: The EPA has taken steps to prevent inactive PFAS from reentering commerce and issued rules to ensure protective restrictions on PFAS manufacturing and processing.
• Measurement methods: The EPA developed methods for measuring PFAS in various environmental media and set water quality criteria to protect aquatic life.
• Focused enforcement: The EPA established a PFAS Enforcement Discretion and Settlement Policy to target significant contributors to PFAS contamination.

These initiatives demonstrate EPA's dedication to tackling PFAS pollution directly, utilizing scientific research, regulatory measures, and significant investments to safeguard public health and the environment. For more detailed information, you can read the full PFAS Strategic Roadmap on the EPA’s website.