EPA replaces PFAS sewage sludge assessment, drawing concern over 'forever chemicals'

By Liz McLaughlin | WRAL News | July 8, 2026

Read the full article by Liz McLaughlin (WRAL News)

"The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is replacing a draft scientific assessment that warned PFAS, commonly known as "forever chemicals," in sewage sludge could pose health risks to farming families and rural communities with a shorter guidance document, the agency says, that better reflects real-world conditions.

The move comes as the Trump administration pursues what it has described as one of the largest deregulatory efforts in EPA history, including rolling back or revising several PFAS regulations.

PFAS are a class of man-made chemicals linked to increased risks of certain cancers, immune system effects and other health problems. Because they break down very slowly, they can persist in water, soil and the human body for years."