EPA’s new definition of PFAS could omit thousands of ‘forever chemicals’

August 18, 2023

Read the full article by Tom Perkins (The Guardian)

"The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) office responsible for protecting the public from toxic substances has changed how it defines PFAS for a second time since 2021, a move critics say they fear will exclude thousands of “forever chemicals” from regulation and largely benefit industry.

Instead of using a clear definition of what constitutes a PFAS, the agency’s Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics plans to take a “case-by-case” approach that allows it to be more flexible in determining which chemicals should be subjected to regulations.

Among other uses for the compounds, the EPA appears to be excluding some chemicals in pharmaceuticals and pesticides that are generally defined as PFAS, current and former EPA officials say, and the shift comes amid fierce industry opposition to proposed limits on the chemicals."

Location:

• North AmericaUS

Topics:

• ChemicalsPFAS
• Sources
• AgenciesEPA
• Measurement Techniques
• Monitoring Data
• PFAS Uses