Echoing the demands of chemical industry lobbyists, the Trump administration has moved to weaken Biden-era drinking water protections by halting regulations on three toxic “forever chemicals” linked to cancer, liver damage, and immune dysfunction.
The Environmental Protection Agency announced today that it will rescind drinking water regulations on three widely used per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) —PFHxS, PFNA, and GenX (HFPO-DA)—along with a “hazard index” approach that treats them as a cumulative health threat when found together.
These chemicals, used in everything from nonstick cookware to waterproof clothing and grease-proof food packaging, are part of a class known as “forever chemicals” for their long-lasting environmental impact and their resistance to breaking down in the human body. The chemicals have been found in tap water across the country and in the blood of 98% of Americans. Scientific studies have linked exposure to elevated risks of kidney and testicular cancer, reproductive harm, metabolic disorders, and immune system suppression.
