May 14, 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact
Sarah Bucic
Policy Analyst
Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments
302.383.6811
Nurses Oppose EPA Plans Weakening Rule On Forever Chemicals In Drinking Water
Washington, D.C.– Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it will keep the current National Primary Drinking Water Regulations (NPDWR) Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) for PFOA and PFOS which set nationwide limits for these “forever chemicals” in drinking water. The original rule, the first-ever national, legally enforceable, scientifically supported drinking water standard was issued in 2024 and covered six common PFAS contaminants, including PFOA, a known human carcinogen, and PFOS, a likely carcinogen. Last year’s rule also required public water utilities to monitor for PFAS with utilities having three years to complete initial monitoring. While EPA plans to maintain current rules for PFOA and PFOS, it will extend the deadline for utility compliance from 2029 to 2031.
Per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as ‘forever chemicals,’ are hazardous chemicals linked to a range of serious illnesses. Under the EPA’s new plan, according to the documents reviewed by The Washington Post, the regulations covering the remaining four PFAS contaminants: PFHxS, PFNA, GenX, and PFBS, will be rescinded and reconsidered with a new rulemaking process beginning in the fall. The EPA also plans to start a program called “PFAS OUT” in order to “share resources, tools, funding and technical assistance to help utilities meet the federal drinking water standards.”
In response to today’s announcement the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments Executive Director Katie Huffling, DNP, RN, CNM, FAAN issued the following statement:
“Today’s announcement is a step backwards and places millions of those living in the United States at risk for serious health effects including increased risk of kidney and testicular cancer, breast cancer, ulcerative colitis, thyroid disease and dysfunction, and increased cholesterol levels. PFAS can impact people that are pregnant leading to low birth weight and decreased infant and fetal growth. Drinking water is a significant pathway of PFAS exposure, addressing contamination before it reaches our taps is key to reducing associated health problems. We have no time to lose in reducing exposures to these toxic chemicals and any delay in compliance deadlines harms the American people. This Administration has made promises to ‘Make America Healthy Again’ but this announcement and rollback of water protections does just the opposite.”
Most people are exposed to mixtures of PFAS and there is sufficient evidence that certain PFAS are associated with health outcomes. For more information, the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments has created a PFAS Toolkit for Clinicians which provides health professionals with information to guide their clinical practice and decision making regarding PFAS.
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The Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments is the only national nursing organization focused solely on the intersection of health and the environment. The mission of the Alliance is to promote healthy people and healthy environments by educating and leading the nursing profession, advancing research, incorporating evidence-based practice, and influencing policy.
