EPA proposes some ‘forever chemicals’ be considered hazardous

(CNN) 鈥� The US Environmental Protection Agency is proposing that it will label nine of the thousands of PFAS 鈥渇orever chemicals鈥� as hazardous.

, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl compounds, are considered a 鈥渇orever chemical鈥� because it takes a long time to break down in the environment and in the human body. They鈥檙e found in hundreds of household items and in drinking water systems and are thought to be in the blood of .

A change to the regulations would make it easier for the government to address PFAS as a part of its cleanup program, the EPA said. Last year, the EPA proposed the first chemicals.

鈥淭hanks to strong partnerships with our co-regulators in the states, we will strengthen our ability to clean up contamination from PFAS, hold polluters accountable and advance public health protections,鈥� EPA Administrator Michael Regan said in a .

The EPA said it鈥檚 proposing to change the definition of hazardous waste in regard to cleanups at permitted hazardous waste facilities. a proposal to change Resource Conservation and Recovery Act regulations on Wednesday that would add some of the most common PFAS compounds, their salts, and structural isomers to a list of 鈥渉azardous constituents.鈥�

Under EPA regulations, to be considered a 鈥渉azardous constituent,鈥� studies must show that the chemical is a threat to human health or 鈥渙ther life forms鈥� and demonstrate that the chemical is toxic; that it can cause cancer; is mutagenic, meaning it could prompt a change in the DNA and damage a cell potentially leading to cancer; or teratogenic, which means that the chemical can disturb the growth and development of an embryo or fetus.

For years, studies have shown that these chemicals are much more hazardous to human health than scientists initially thought and are dangerous at levels thousands of times lower than previously believed.

Exposure to PFAS chemicals are thought to lead to , , breathing problems , and problems with the immune system, in addition to cancers.

While the EPA is proposing to regulate nine PFAS, there are thousands of these chemicals that have been used to make coatings and products that can repel water, grease, heat and oil. The chemicals are found in carpets, clothing, cookware, and many other common household products.

High concentrations have even been found as far away as the and in the blood of animals that live in areas that presumably have little opportunities for direct exposure to these human-made chemicals.

Before it could become official, the EPA must seek input from the public. The public comment period is open for 60 days after it is published in the

Environmentalists say the EPA鈥檚 announcement is a good start, but groups like the U.S. PIRG Education Fund and Environment America Research and Policy Center have been calling the EPA to ban the entire class of PFAS chemicals, not just the nine. There are of PFAS chemicals in the environment.

鈥淔or decades the chemical industry has polluted our communities with toxic 鈥榝orever chemicals,鈥� putting our health at risk,鈥� said director of U.S. PIRG Education Fund鈥檚 Stop Toxic PFAS campaign, in a news release. 鈥淭he EPA鈥檚 proposal is a welcome step toward cleaning up contamination. To fully prevent harm from PFAS, we need to phase out the use of the entire class of PFAS and regulate them as a single class. Otherwise, our regulators and lawmakers will be stuck playing an endless game of whack-a mole.鈥�

The-CNN-Wire