PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has permanently designated two common chemicals as hazardous substances, which experts say is a crucial step to protect your health.
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) are the most commonly used per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The EPA has listed both substances as hazardous substances under the federal Toxic Waste Cleanup Act, known as the Superfund Act.
“We call them chemicals for a reason, which is that they stay in the environment and in our bodies. They don’t tend to break down,” said Stephanie Wein, clean water and conservation advocate at the PennEnvironment Research and Policy Center.
The new action allows the EPA to address contaminated sites, accelerate cleanup efforts and hold polluters accountable by forcing them to pay for cleanups. It also requires them to report any spills or spills of the two chemicals.
Wein and others at PennEnvironment fought for this.
“This is a huge step forward for Pennsylvania, especially as we have been dealing with this for years here in the Commonwealth. We were kind of a canary in the coal mine for how widespread the problem of PFAS is. So this is It’s going to be a really good day and it’s going to last a long time,” Wein said.
According to the EPA, PFAS have contaminated 180 superfund sites, and 16 are in Pennsylvania. The largest in the state is the Willow Grove Naval Air and Air Reserve station in Montgomery County.
PFOA and PFOS are the most common PFAS and are found in nonstick products such as cooking pans, food packaging and waterproof clothing. They are also found in firefighting foam.
“And that’s how they often contaminate large areas near military bases or firefighting training centers,” Wein said.
The new rule follows the EPA issuing a federal regulation to turn off the tap on certain PFAS in drinking water.
PennEnvironment’s next mission is to completely phase out PFAs in firefighting foams and consumer products.
“While these things are in the works, it’s a huge step forward to get the ball rolling on cleaning up the waste that’s already in the environment,” Wein said.
Jessica Guay
