EPA Issues New Significantly Lower PFAS Drinking Water Health Advisories

EPA released four drinking water health advisories on Tuesday June 14, 2022 for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) which are significantly lower than prior advisory limits for PFOA and PFOS, and well below Michigan’s current Maximum Contaminant Levels for drinking water. A comparison of EPA’s levels compared to Michigan’s MCLs for the same chemicals is as follows:

EPA has issued the advisory levels for PFOA and PFOS as “interim”, as its data and draft analysis on the health effect of these chemicals previously released in November of 2021 undergoes EPA Science Advisory and promulgation of EPAs PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Regulation. The advisories for Genx and PFBS were issued as final levels.

While EPA’s health advisories are not enforceable from a regulatory standpoint, they do serve as guidance to state regulators and health departments setting enforceable state drinking water criteria and responding to incidents involving residential drinking wells impacted by these chemicals. Just how state regulators react to these new advisory levels remains to be seen. In the meanwhile, EPA is hosting a webinar on June 23, 2022 at 12:00 pm EST to go over the new advisory limits. Registration for the event can be found at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/new-drinking-water-health-advisories-for-pfas-chemicals-tickets-365683558367.

Susan Johnson
248.258.1307
johnsons@butzel.com

Beth Gotthelf
248.258.1303
gotthelf@butzel.com