By Valerie Volcovici
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday proposed the first-ever national drinking water standard for six cancer-causing chemicals known as polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
The proposal is a major milestone in the EPA’s strategy to tackle the so-called “forever chemicals,” which have caused tens of thousands of illnesses around the country.
“EPA’s proposal to establish a national standard for PFAS in drinking water is informed by the best available science, and would help provide states with the guidance they need to make decisions that best protect their communities,” EPA Administrator Michael Regan said in a statement.
(Reporting by Valerie Volcovici; editing by Susan Heavey)
