Hand Giving Drinking Water to Child, Shutterstock
May 14, 2025 (Boston, MA) – The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced it will weaken standards that protect our drinking water from toxic chemicals that threaten our health. The EPA said it will rescind and weaken drinking water standards for four PFAS chemicals that have been linked to a range of diseases and illnesses.
“The EPA’s reckless and unlawful decision blatantly threatens public health and undermines the fundamental right of every person to access clean, safe drinking water,” said Kate Sinding Daly, Senior Vice President for Law and Policy at CLF. “By dismantling this vital initiative, the EPA under the Trump administration is condemning communities across the country to ongoing exposure to toxic chemicals. While the full consequences of this dangerous shift will unfold over time, one thing is clear: we must not back down in our fight to secure safe drinking water for everyone, or the consequences could be devastating for generations to come.”
PFAS is a class of thousands of related chemical compounds. They are often referred to as “forever chemicals” because they can persist in our environment for thousands of years and in our bloodstreams for decades.
Since the mid-20th century, PFAS have been used widely in products that we rely on every day – nonstick cookware, food wrappers, water-repellent clothing, stain-resistant fabrics and carpets, cosmetics, dental floss, some firefighting foams, and products that resist grease, water, and oil. At least 45% of the nation’s tap water has one or more PFAS chemicals.
Scientific studies show that PFAS interfere with natural human hormones and the immune system, increase cholesterol, and disrupt liver, thyroid, and pancreatic function. Researchers also suspect that some PFAS increase the risk of cancer. They are toxic in very small amounts and stay in our blood for years. No medical interventions will remove them from the body.
CLF experts are available for further comment.
###