WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Environmental Protection Agency decision to rescind the 2024 national drinking water standards for PFAS “forever chemicals” jeopardizes the health and safety of people and wildlife.

“PFAS contamination is one of our nation's greatest threats to drinking water,” said Jessie Ritter, associate vice president of water and coasts for the National Wildlife Federation. “By weakening protections for these PFAS, the EPA is allowing these toxic forever chemicals to harm communities all over the county.” 

PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals,” are a family of over 11,000 chemicals used to make a variety of products more waterproof, stain-proof, and flame-resistant. Scientific understanding of the threat posed by forever chemicals has advanced rapidly in the past decade, including the discovery of dangerous levels of PFAS in the environment, people, water, and wildlife. PFAS are persistent, bio-accumulative, and toxic-causing human health impacts such as cancer and depleted breeding success in some wildlife species.

To learn more about PFAS: NWF’s Forever Chemicals Page or explore the NWF PFAS blog archive.