Trump Administration Rolls Back Restrictions on Toxic ‘Forever Chemicals’ in Drinking Water

(Central News Agency, Washington, May 14) — The Trump administration took steps today to roll back restrictions on several toxic “forever chemicals” in drinking water, reversing what had once been hailed as a landmark public health victory.

According to AFP, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that limits on four types of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) will be removed, retaining maximum contaminant level (MCL) limits only for two of the most notorious compounds.

At least 158 million people across the U.S. are affected by PFAS-contaminated drinking water. These substances accumulate in the human body and can cause cancer, birth defects, reduced fertility, and behavioral disorders, even at very low concentrations.

The original regulations were implemented in April 2024 under President Joe Biden's administration and were seen as a long-overdue response to decades of industry deception and governmental inaction.

However, under the changes announced by EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, the restrictions will now apply only to perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). These two legacy chemicals were once commonly used in products such as Teflon nonstick cookware, 3M’s Scotchgard fabric protectors, and firefighting foams.

Additionally, the EPA has extended the compliance deadline for these two substances from 2029 to 2031 and has halted the agency’s assessment of the cumulative risks posed by PFAS chemical mixtures.

(Translator: Shih-Yun Cheng / Editor: Jui-Cheng Hsu)