HADDONFIELD, NEW JERSEY — Gerald J. Williams, Partner, Williams Cedar LLP, is available to speak on new guidelines released by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) about safe levels of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAs) in drinking water.

 

The new guidelines were released on June 15 after findings that even levels as low as .004 parts per trillion for PFOA and .02 parts per trillion for PFOS, two common types of PFAs, could have negative health effects on people exposed to them.

 

PFAs are a type of chemical that has been used in industrial processes since the 1940s. These chemicals have been used in everything from non-stick frying pans to moisture-repellent fabric to fire-retardant materials. Unfortunately, PFAs are incredibly toxic, and, even in tiny amounts,1 can cause a variety of health problems, including thyroid disorders, multiple types of cancer, and low birth weight in children.

 

They also break down incredibly slowly, allowing them to accumulate to toxic levels over a prolonged period. As more information about PFAs has been learned, the lower the recommended safe concentrations for PFAs have gotten.

 

Despite this health risk, PFAs are not currently regulated by the EPA. The agency is looking to fix this and has announced its intention to issue mandatory standards for PFOAs and PFOS this fall. “These new advisories represent the good news that the federal government, after years of lagging behind regulators in states like New York and New Jersey, recognizes the severe dangers these widespread, persistent, highly toxic chemicals pose for municipal and private water supplies, even at low levels,” Mr. Williams says.

 

“For decades, the corporate manufacturers and users of PFAs have covered up these dangers, putting residents and workers at risk for serious illnesses, including cancer,” Mr. Williams says. “These new advisories won’t remove the contamination, but they will help inform the public of the ill effects, of both the ‘old’ and ‘new’ PFAs in their drinking water.”