Earlier this month, the federal government introduced new rules to require public systems to measure and reduce PFAS (polyfluoroalkyl substances) under the Safe Drinking Water Act. The move established the first-ever nationally enforceable drinking water standards for PFAS.PFAS is a synthetic chemical found in everyday household products such as nonstick cookware, as well as in things like firefighting foam. It is used to make products stain, grease, heat and water resistant, and its sturdy structure means it takes much longer to break down in comparison to organic chemicals. More specifically, PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid, which falls under a broader category of PFAS) are used for its emulsifier and surfactant properties, or as fluoropolymers (such as Teflon), firefighting foams, cleaners, cosmetics, greases and lubricants, paints, polishes, adhesives and photographic films.They are also harmful when ingested by humans. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has stated there is no safe level of exposure to PFAS without risk of health impacts. Peerreviewed scientific studies have shown that exposure to certain levels of PFAS may lead to reproductive problems, including certain types of cancer, decreased fertility, to developmental delays in children, a suppressed immune system, increased cholesterol levels, and more. Those who are immunocompromised, elderly, pregnant, or have an infant, may be at increased risk and should consult with a doctor about drinking water that exceeds the recommended threshold. It should be noted that boiling the water will not remove PFOA and PFAS. They are nearly impossible to destroy, taking thousands of years to break down, and thus end up in the ground and our water.There is, undoubtedly, some level of these “forever chemicals” in all of us at this point, as their use went unchecked and unregulated for a long time, and have been incorporated into so many household products. It is everywhere and has been for many years.The PFAS issue is scary to think about, to consider that the water we drink could be hurting us. So, we are very glad to be (relatively) ahead of the game in Livingston. Town officials have been working on remedying this problem for several years, anticipating New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy’s 2021 move to lower the PFAS thresholds in the water before it was signed into law. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection had been signaling that the standards would change back in 2019. This put the town ahead of many in its remediation process, which ...
