EPA Announces National Drinking Water Standard for PFAS

Recently, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the first-ever national, legally enforceable drinking water standard to protect communities from exposure to per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

Also commonly referred to as forever chemicals, exposure to PFAS has been linked to cancers, impacts to the liver and heart, and immune and developmental damage to infants and children warns the agency. EPA claims the final rule will reduce PFAS exposure for approximately 100 million people, prevent thousands of deaths and reduce tens of thousands of serious illnesses.

According to the agency:

EPA is taking a signature step to protect public health by establishing legally enforceable levels for several PFAS known to occur individually and as mixtures in drinking water. This rule sets limits for five individual PFAS: PFOA, PFOS, PFNA, PFHxS, and HFPO-DA (also known as “GenX Chemicals”). The rule also sets a limit for mixtures of any two or more of four PFAS: PFNA, PFHxS, PFBS, and “GenX chemicals.”

“An estimated 6% to 10% of the 66,000 public drinking water systems in the U.S. that are subject to this rule may have to take action to reduce PFAS to meet these new standards,” said Joe Frasca, Senior Vice President of Marketing at EMSL Analytical, Inc. “Public water systems have 3 years to complete initial monitoring. They must inform the public of the level of PFAS measured in their drinking water, and where PFAS is found at levels that exceed these standards, systems must implement solutions to reduce PFAS in their drinking water within 5 years. EPA has also announced almost $1 billion in funding to help states and territories implement testing and treatment at public water systems and to help private well owners address PFAS contamination.”

The laboratory testing experts at EMAL Analytical are certified to test for numerous per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in drinking water, groundwater, wastewater, soil, and food samples. Their PFAS testing services are available to water utilities, regulatory agencies, environmental professionals, manufacturers and the public for samples submitted from most states.

To learn more about PFAS testing resources in states where EMSL is able accept samples, please visit www.EMSL.com, call (800) 220-3675 or email info@EMSL.com .

About EMSL Analytical, Inc.

EMSL Analytical is one of the leading testing laboratories with locations throughout the United States and Canada. EMSL is a nationally recognized and locally focused provider specializing in fast laboratory results for mold, bacteria, Legionella, USP 797, pathogens, asbestos, lead, soot, char & ash from fires, VOCs, odors, radon, formaldehyde, indoor air quality, microbiology, environmental, industrial hygiene, radiological, food, beverage & consumer products and material testing services for the identification of unknown substances. EMSL services both professionals and the general public. EMSL maintains an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations as well as state and federal regulating bodies including, but not limited to A2LA, AIHA LAP, LLC. (AIHA EMLAP, AIHA IHLAP, AIHA ELLAP), NVLAP, CDC ELITE, CPSC, CA ELAP, NY ELAP, TX DOH, NJDEP and multiple other state accrediting agencies. Please visit our website at www.EMSL.com for a complete listing of accreditations. In addition, EMSL carries a wide range of Sampling Equipment and Investigative Products for environmental professionals.

Contact Information

Joseph Frasca

Senior Vice President of Marketing

EMSL Analytical, Inc.

(1) 856-303-2503

Contact via E-mail