With headlines drawing public attention to the contamination of drinking water after years of federal government neglect, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on April 10 new standards to reduce public exposure to PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly referred to as “forever chemicals” because of their persistence. EPA has finalized a National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) for six PFAS, including PFOA and PFOS, which EPA has recognized have no safe level of exposure, regulating new chemicals for the first time since the 1996 amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). PFAS persistence and bioaccumulation in humans, wildlife, and the environment is due to the strength of a resulting fluorine–carbon atom bond. PFAS contamination of drinking water, surface and groundwater, waterways, soils, and the food supply—among other resources—is ubiquitous worldwide. PFAS is used in everyday products, including cookware, clothes, carpets, as an anti-sticking and anti-stain agent, in plastics, machinery, and as a pesticide. The action was welcomed by environmentalists and public health advocates as an important step but left many concerned that any level of exposure to these chemicals is unacceptable and critical of EPA’s ongoing failure to act despite years of overwhelming scientific evidence of harm and the availability of safer alternative materials and practices.
A known source of soil and drinking water contamination is PFAS added as ‘inert’ ingredients to pesticides and fertilizers. As Beyond Pesticides has noted, “Why would PFAS be found in a pesticide formulation? The chemicals are included as dispersants, surfactants, anti-foaming agents, or other pesticide adjuvants intended to increase the effect of the active ingredient. EPA includes PFAS chemicals in its “Inert Finder” database, and according to a PEER [Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility] press release, many companies have patents on file for pesticide formulations containing PFAS, shrouded behind claims of trade secret formulation and do not disclose PFAS ingredients. PFAS soil contamination is also likely from PFAS as an undisclosed ingredient in pesticide and/or fertilizer formulations. Pesticides with PFAS active ingredients will not cause disruptions to the pest management industry. Pest problems in agriculture and landscaped areas can be prevented through practices that improve soil health and promote biodiversity and habitat for pest predators. If pest problems do become an issue, a wide range of insecticidal soaps and essential oils, classified either as certified organic, or minimum risk, are available and represent a least-toxic option.