“Eternal Pollutants” Criticized by Biden in the US

It’s a first. Joe Biden’s administration will put measures in place to ban certain chemical components from drinking water that are toxic to humans and the environment. The Environmental Protection Agency announced on Tuesday that the environmental objective is to reach near zero levels of per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). “It is [une mesure] very significant. This is the first time in U.S. history that we are setting enforceable limits against PFAS pollution.”welcomes Michael Regan, administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, quoted by le New York Times.

Commonly called “eternal pollutants”, PFAS, are present in hygiene products such as toothpaste or toilet paper, in textiles, food packaging, kitchen utensils, cosmetics… in short, almost everywhere. PFAS then accumulate in the water and can travel long distances. It is impossible to escape it completely. And yet, exposure to these toxic components has been linked to health problems such as infertility, thyroid, asthma and even cancer. “Communities have suffered for far too long from exposure to these eternal chemicals”deplores the administrator of the American agency.

This new regulation would require companies to report leaks of commonly used PFASs and pay for cleanup. And if the culprits are not identified by the authorities, public funds could be released for the cleanup to be carried out anyway, reports the agency. Reuters. “Under this proposed legislation, the Environmental Protection Agency will help protect communities from PFAS pollution and seek to hold polluters accountable for their actions”underlines Michael Regan.

The agency will collect public comments on this regulation for 60 days before it takes effect. Public health groups and human rights advocates said the move was long overdue. Environmentalists and some lawmakers have hailed it and called it a “step forward” towards solving a major national problem. “With this announcement, the tens of millions of Americans who live near a PFAS-contaminated site can finally rest easy [tranquilles] knowing that help is on the way”, believes for his part the chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee of the House of Representatives, the Democrat Frank Pallone. Unsurprisingly, the announcement was less well received by industrialists and certain Republicans who denounce a “unattainable standard” imposed by the Biden administration.