The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) launched a new effort to reduce the presence of “forever chemicals” in drinking water.
The effort, called PFAS OUT, works with communities and water systems to reduce exposure to contaminants. “Small, rural, and disadvantaged water systems often have fewer resources to navigate complex contamination challenges,” the EPA explained. “PFAS OUT is specifically designed to ensure these communities are not left behind, helping every affected system reduce exposure now and position itself for full compliance with enforceable drinking water standards in the coming years.”
“Protecting Americans from exposure to PFAS in drinking water is a priority for EPA. That’s why I’m thrilled to launch the PFAS OUT initiative to help water systems accelerate actions to reduce exposure to PFOA and PFOS,” EPA Assistant Administrator for Water Jess Kramer said in a statement. “These contaminants are well studied, their health impacts are well understood. Through PFAS OUT, EPA will help protect public health by—for the very first time—proactively engaging with water systems, states, and other partners to address drinking water contamination.”
The initiative follows the EPA putting forward a “landmark set of actions” to protect the nation’s drinking water from “microplastics, pharmaceuticals, forever chemicals, and dozens of other contaminants.” Seventy-five chemicals and nine microbes that may be found in drinking water are listed in a draft Sixth Contaminant Candidate List (CCL 6).
Meanwhile, the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), an agency under HHS, announced the STOMP program, or the Systematic Targeting Of MicroPlastics. The $144 million program creates a means of measuring, researching, and removing microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs) from the body.
