Governor Hochul Urged to Lower Proposed Levels for PFAS Notification/Cleanup

 

Albany, NY – On May 2, as the New York State Drinking Water Quality Council prepared to meet, advocates urged Governor Hochul’s Department of Health (DOH) to lower proposed drinking water levels for 23 PFAS chemicals, so that whenever these PFAS are detected in drinking water, the public receives a letter in the mail about it.

PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals,” have polluted drinking water across New York. There are at least 9,000 chemicals in the PFAS family. Of the PFAS that can currently be detected in drinking water, many have been linked to various cancers and other illnesses.

DOH has proposed Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) of 10 parts per trillion (ppt) each for four PFAS chemicals. DOH has also proposed notification levels of 200 ppt for several other PFAS chemicals. MCLs require public notification and drinking water cleanup if exceeded; notification levels only require public notification if exceeded. The Council is expected to take a formal vote recommending what MCLs and notification levels DOH should set for 23 PFAS at the meeting today.

All of DOH’s proposals far exceed 2 ppt, the level that nation-leading PFAS scientists and public health experts have called on DOH to establish. There is no known safe level of PFAS exposure; infants and fetuses are especially at risk. Water utilities can reliably detect these PFAS down to 2 ppt.

For example, New Yorkers could have 199 ppt of PFHxA, a PFAS chemical linked to thyroid disease and other illnesses, in their water. Under DOH’s proposal, however, those New Yorkers would not receive a letter in the mail about the contamination, and would lack the awareness to ask questions of their water utility or take steps to protect their health.

“I urge Governor Hochul and the NYSDOH to set the notification levels for the most toxic PFAS chemicals as low as possible as it has been widely demonstrated that there are no safe levels of exposure,” said State Senator Gustavo Rivera, Chair of the New York Senate Health Committee. “We must strengthen our State’s drinking water standards and protect the health of all New Yorkers who are mostly unaware of their exposure to these harmful contaminants.”

Rob Hayes, Director of Clean Water with Environmental Advocates NY, said, “New Yorkers deserve to know what’s in their water. But Governor Hochul’s administration is proposing to keep many New Yorkers in the dark about their exposure to toxic PFAS chemicals. The Department of Health has proposed drinking water standards for several PFAS that are 100 times higher than what nation-leading scientists have recommended. We need Governor Hochul to fulfill her commitment to greater transparency and regulate PFAS at 2 parts per trillion, the most health-protective level.”

Jennifer Plouffe, Hoosick Falls residents and New York Water Project member, said, “If we have learned anything from Hoosick Falls, the sooner that drinking water is tested, the better. But testing isn’t enough; community members need to be notified. You can’t fix a problem you don’t know about. Ignorance is not bliss. We need Governor Hochul to put human well being over profit: set the lowest MCLs and notification levels for toxic PFAS. Seven years after Hoosick Falls’ water crisis came to light, the kids and infants who were exposed to PFAS are still dealing with negative physical effects. Governor Hochul has an ethical responsibility to make sure water is safe to drink and prevent this from happening to any other community.”

List of PFAS to be regulated with MCLs:

perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA)

perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS)

Perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA)

perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA)

List of PFAS to be regulated with notification levels:

perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS)

hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA)

Perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoA)

Perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA)

Perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnA)

11-chloroeicosafluoro-3-oxaundecane-1-sulfonic acid (11Cl-PF3OUdS)

9-chlorohexadecafluoro-3-oxanonane-1-sulfonic acid (9Cl-PF3ONS)

4,8-dioxa-3H-perfluorononanoic acid (ADONA)

Nonafluoro-3,6-dioxaheptanoic acid (NFDHA)

Perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA)

1H, 1H, 2H, 2HPerfluorodecane sulfonic acid (8:2FTS)

Perfluoro(2-ethoxyethane)sulfonic acid (PFEESA)

Perfluoroheptanesulfonic acid (PFHpS)

1H,1H, 2H, 2H-Perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (4:2FTS)

Perfluoro-3-methoxypropanoic acid (PFMPA)

Perfluoro-4-methoxybutanoic acid (PFMBA)

1H,1H, 2H, 2H-Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (6:2FTS)

Perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPeA)

Perfluoropentanesulfonic acid (PFPeS)

Source: Environmental Advocates NY