Anonymous reader cites NPR reporting. The Environmental Protection Agency is proposing to classify nine PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals,” as hazardous to human health. The EPA signed a proposal Wednesday that would classify chemicals as “hazardous ingredients” under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. For a government agency to consider a substance a hazardous ingredient, it must be toxic or cause cancer, genetic mutations, or fetal malformations. A complete list of the nine substances can be found here.
The agency cites various studies that have found that forever chemicals cause a number of “toxic effects” in humans and animals, including cancer, decreased response to vaccination, and high cholesterol. including, but not limited to, decreased female fertility, pre-eclampsia, etc. The EPA said it has implications for thyroid disease and asthma. PFAS, an abbreviation for “per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances,” covers thousands of man-made chemicals. PFAS are often used for manufacturing purposes such as nonstick cookware, adhesives, firefighting foam, and turf. PFAS are called “forever chemicals” because they break down very slowly and can accumulate in people, animals, and the environment. References: Almost half of US tap water is contaminated with 'forever chemicals,' research estimates