Tag: forever chemicals

EPA Sets Lower Standards For ‘Forever Chemicals’ In Drinking Water

The EPA’s goal for public exposure to PFAS from drinking water is zero, although it will not be enforceable.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has set maximum levels for “forever chemicals” in drinking water.

The EPA’s goal for public exposure to PFAS from drinking water is zero, although it will not be enforceable.

Rather, the agency wants to limit such chemicals to between 4 to 10 parts per trillion, depending on what category they belong to.

In contrast, the EPA’s 2016 guidance allowed PFAS exposure as high as 70 parts per trillion.

The EPA developed the standards based on 120,000 comments it received. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 committed $9 billion toward reducing PFAS contamination in drinking water systems.

Last year, the U.S. Geological Survey found PFAS levels above the proposed EPA standards in 19 of the state’s water systems.

Exposure to PFAS is known to cause cancer and other illnesses, and complications during pregnancy.

Chemours Will Sample For PFAS At Washington Works Site, EPA Says

The EPA says the Chemours Company will sample soil, surface water, sediment and groundwater for PFAS at its Washington Works site near Parkersburg.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has reached an agreement with a chemical company to sample for “forever chemicals” at a Wood County site.

The EPA says the Chemours Company will sample soil, surface water, sediment and groundwater for PFAS at its Washington Works site near Parkersburg. 

The EPA, along with officials in Ohio and West Virginia, want to determine the extent of PFAS contamination at the site. PFAS have been produced and released there since 1951, according to the agency. The facility remains in operation.

The 1,200 acre site along the Ohio River also includes volatile organic compounds.

PFAS break down very slowly over time and have been scientifically proven to harm people and animals, the EPA says. Yet they are present in food products, water, air and soil and even in the blood of people and animals.

Products made with PFAS include firefighting foam and nonstick cookware.

State Gets EPA Funding To Address ‘Forever Chemicals’ In Drinking Water

The Department of Environmental Protection will receive $1 million from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to address PFAS in drinking water sources.

West Virginia will receive federal funds to help eliminate “forever chemicals” from drinking water.

The Department of Environmental Protection will receive $1 million from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to address PFAS in drinking water sources.

The state agency will use the funds to engage with communities in the Northern and Eastern panhandles and develop PFAS Action Plans.

PFAS are a group of around 10,000 manmade chemicals that have been used to manufacture both industrial and consumer products.

The U.S. Geological Survey found them in 67 of the state’s 279 raw water systems, with clusters in the Eastern Panhandle and Ohio River Valley.

The EPA has proposed legally enforceable limits for PFAS in water systems nationwide.

Scientist Talks PFAS Contamination, Solutions On This West Virginia Morning

On this West Virginia Morning, tap water testing conducted in 18 states by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) found New Martinsville had the second-highest level of PFAS, commonly known as “forever chemicals,” in the country at 40 parts per trillion. Chris Schulz spoke with EWG senior scientist Tasha Stoiber about water contamination, its health risks, and possible solutions.

On this West Virginia Morning, tap water testing conducted in 18 states by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) found New Martinsville had the second-highest level of PFAS, commonly known as “forever chemicals,” in the country at 40 parts per trillion.

PFAS are manmade chemicals used in an array of industrial processes and consumer products but linger in the environment and pose a risk to human health. Chris Schulz spoke with EWG senior scientist Tasha Stoiber about water contamination, its health risks, and possible solutions.

Also, in this show, the West Virginia Hospital Association released its Community Benefit report this week. Emily Rice has the story.

West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.

Support for our news bureaus comes from Concord University and Shepherd University.

Caroline MacGregor is our assistant news director and produced this episode.

Teresa Wills is our host.

Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

State Moves To Protect Water Supply From PFAS

During his weekly briefing, the Gov. Jim Justice said West Virginia has taken steps to meet federal guidelines to lower PFAS, or forever chemicals, in the state’s water supplies. 

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) this week announced a proposal to limit PFAS chemical compounds (PFOA and PFOS) in drinking water to four parts per trillion.

Per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are present throughout our society and in thousands of products in the industrial, food and textile industries. They’re used in firefighting foams, food packaging, cleaning products, and household items like non-stick cookware. 

State Health Officer Dr. Matthew Christiansen said as the health impacts of PFAS have become more apparent, the Public Health Department is working closely with its state and federal partners to monitor the problem.

“Now as we’re learning more about these and the science is becoming more clear, we’re learning that they are possible carcinogens and can create other adverse health impacts with exposure over a long period of time,” he said.

According to Christiansen, the United States Geological Survey has surveyed the raw water for 279 water systems throughout West Virginia. He said 37 of those were identified by the EPA as having levels of PFOA or PFOS in the raw water source.

He said the state has established a working group to provide support to the state’s public water systems.

“At the direction of the governor, the DHHR and the DEP, we have proactively reached out to water systems in West Virginia in preparation of these revised EPA guidelines,” Christiansen said.

The collaboration between the DHHR and DEP is expected to provide a venue for communication about best practices in the state’s mitigation of PFAS and their compounds.

“We believe that these proposed maximum contaminant levels for PFAS are achievable for the majority of our water systems here in West Virginia,” Christian said.

More than $18 million the state received in EPA funding will be used for things like research and testing, treatment, source water control, restructuring or consolidation, and technical assistance.

Under the state’s response efforts to lower PFAS in water supplies, it’s expected that some public water systems will need to install additional mitigation plans to treat PFAS moving forward. 

Exit mobile version