EarthTalk®
From the Editors of E – The Environmental Magazine
Dear EarthTalk: What’s new in the fight to get PFAS out of our drinking water and bloodstreams?— Michelle K., Reno, NV
PFAS, or Polyfluoroalkyl substances, are chemicals that are resistant to breaking down, or “forever chemicals.” Having both commercial and industrial applications, they have been pervasive in the environment since the late 1930s. They can have devastating health impacts for both humans, animals and the Earth’s ecology as a whole.
The historical work against PFAS has served as the base of current legislation. Most regulation was initially patchy and separate among agencies and states. This meant some mandatory data reporting from producers and limits or even penalties, but no wide-sweeping bans. Finally, in the early 2020s, PFAS regulation was consolidated in the U.S. when the U.S, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) set the first standardized drinking water limits and required data reporting.
Despite this progress, there is some backsliding currently occurring. In a 2025 article for the Environmental Health Network (ENH), Mark Ruffalo, actor and activist, stated that his film, “Dark Waters” depicting the lawsuit against DuPont regarding PFAS pollution, “was meant to be a cautionary tale; instead, it has become the future we keep choosing.”
The backsliding has been characterized by governmental back-and-forth, between the diminishing enforcement powers of the EPA and scientists’ and environmental advocates’ desire for action. The EPA attempted to pull back some of its standardized regulation against certain forever chemicals by repealing some specific drinking water limits.
State governments have continued to take action on PFAS, advancing legislation on consumer goods. Specifically noting the slow federal action, the states have taken the lead several items, including high human-exposure items, like “cookware, cosmetics, cleaning products, dental floss, and food packaging.”
At the same time, there are some research and development efforts to mitigate PFAS through a variety of methods, including testing kits, various methods of elimination through biochemical processes, and even the advancement of specific water filtration techniques (CPI). To avoid PFAS, consume filtered water, and avoid non-stick pans, fast-food packaging, and even some clothing blends. With a little bit of research about materials encountered day-to-day, avoiding PFAS can be a breeze. Together, with research, legislation, and mindfulness, PFAS as an issue can be permanently mitigated.
CONTACTS: Mark Ruffalo: Toxic PFAS pollution continues to threaten communities across the U.S., ehn.org/mark-ruffalo-toxic-pfas-pollution-continues-to-threaten-communities-across-the-u-s.
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