Exposure to these chemicals, also known as PFAS, has been linked to health issues including cancer, kidney and thyroid issues, weakened immune systems and fertility issues.
In 2024, the Biden administration set the first-ever limits on six types of PFAS. It said at the time that its action would reduce exposure to PFAS for about 100 million people, preventing 9,600 deaths and nearly 30,000 illnesses in the coming decades.
The Trump administration announced on Wednesday it will "rescind and reconsider" filtration requirements for four of those six PFAS. For the two PFAS that will still need to be filtered out, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is delaying the requirements to do so by two years.
Now, public water systems with just two types of PFAS — PFOA and PFOS — will be required to filter out those chemicals by 2031.
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin described the changes as "common-sense flexibility."
Other types of PFAS — those known as GenX, PFBS, PFHxS and PFNA, — will be newly rescinded from the rule.
Asked about the changes to the rule during a congressional hearing on Wednesday, Zeldin indicated the agency may not ultimately exclude those four substances.
"There was an issue as it relates to the four other chemicals, and that's something that we are going to be going through a process, but that doesn't mean that it gets weaker."
Environmental activists recoiled at the changes announced by the EPA, including Emily Donovan, whose North Carolina community has faced GenX contamination.
"This current administration promised voters it would 'Make America Healthy Again' but rescinding part of the PFAS drinking water standards does no such thing," Donovan said.
Read more at TheHill.com.
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