Washington.- The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed this Tuesday the first national regulation to limit the presence in drinking water of chemicals that are harmful to health.
The announcement would affect public water distributors and bottling companies, which will have to examine, report and reduce the presence of six perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to ensure safe consumption.
This decision “will prevent thousands of deaths over time and reduce tens of thousands of serious illnesses,” the EPA says in a statement.
Last year, the EPA issued a health alert for states, local authorities and manufacturers to reduce exposure to some of these chemicals by gathering scientific evidence that they are more toxic than previously thought.
Long-term exposure to PFAS can cause serious health problems, including cancer.
“Communities across the country have suffered from the threat of these pollutants for too long,” said EPA head Michael Regan, who promises a strong response.
The Infrastructure Law promoted by the Administration of Democrat Joe Biden and approved by Congress in 2021 provides for an investment of 10 billion dollars to combat the presence of contaminants in drinking water.
