The Trump administration could soon reveal whether it plans to roll back Biden-era safeguards against toxic “forever chemicals” — a key test of the extent of the administration’s “Make America Healthy Again” agenda.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is expected to say by Tuesday whether it plans to keep or roll back Biden-era rules that require water utilities to filter out toxic substances known as PFAS from drinking water.
It’s also expected to say by later this month whether it plans to maintain a separate rule that allows the agency to put polluters on the hook to clean up these toxic substances.
Overall, the rules are expected to significantly reduce Americans’ exposure to forever chemicals and the EPA’s decisions could be an early indicator whether the Trump administration will prioritize its promises to deregulate or reduce Americans’ exposure to harmful compounds.
PFAS, which stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a family of chemicals that have been used in a wide variety of everyday products, from nonstick pans to dental floss to waterproof clothing and makeup to sweat-resistant apparel and fast-food packaging.
Known as forever chemicals because they can spend hundreds or thousands of years in the environment before breaking down, these substances can be found in at least 45 percent of Americans’ tap water and virtually all of their bloodstreams.
Several of them have also been linked to cancer and other illnesses, including thyroid disease and fertility issues.
The Biden administration put a rule in place that requires water utilities to install filtration devices within five years if they have elevated levels of at least one of six types of PFAS.
It said this rule would reduce exposure to these substances for about 100 million people, saving 9,600 lives and preventing nearly 30,000 illnesses in the coming decades.
Separately, it also declared two PFAS as hazardous substances, making it easier to compel polluters to pay to clean them up.
The Trump administration has not said whether it would keep these rules in place or roll them back. Challenges to the Biden-era rules have been paused while it figures out its stances. It’s expected to inform the court of its stances on the rules this week and later this month respectively — unless it requests an additional delay.
The decisions mark another key test of whether the administration will prioritize its goal of reducing regulations on industry or protecting Americans’ health. Thus far, it has generally indicated it would roll back regulations on other types of chemicals, including those that can cause cancer.
