EPA Warns of 'Forever Chemicals' in Drinking Water More Harmful Than Previously Known

Facts Matter

Earlier this week, the residents of East Palestine were told by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that not only was everything okay, but that also, the local water was "safe to drink." They allegedly made that determination after testing the water in several different wells that feed into the town's municipal water system. In fact, the director of the EPA made a special trip to East Palestine to assure the public that the water was safe to drink, and to trust the government.

While what's happening in East Palestine is devastating, what's happening to the water and the environment in Ohio is just a much higher profile version of what the EPA has allowed to happen throughout the whole country: over the last 70 years, there has been a rise of what are known as "forever chemicals." And whether you're in Ohio or in a state that's nowhere near Ohio, while the water looks okay on the surface, very likely, you are ingesting these forever chemicals just the same.

Polyfluoro-alkyl substances (PFAS) are man-made chemicals created since the 1940s that are found not only in drinking water, but also in cosmetics, food packaging, and dental floss, among thousands of other products. However, they have been found to be a lot more harmful than previously imagined, being now linked to various illnesses, cancers, reduced birth weight, and developmental challenges for children—among many other health problems.