Since the left uses fear as a means to remain in power and demonize their opposition, the climate cultists in the EPA and their sycophants in the media have found a new kind of boogeyman to scare people with: PFAS or forever chemicals.

PFAS means per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances. According to the CDC, PFAS are molecules containing carbon, hydrogen, and fluorine which makes them very safe and not immediately affected by heat, light, and other environmental factors. Consequently, that makes this class of compounds essential in products that many of us enjoy, in which a recent report is even being used to convince people to abstain or reduce consuming seafood.

The National Resource Defense Council told CBS News, the cost of the new proposed EPA mandates will be about $1.5 billion. Despite the costs of these new rules, EPA bureaucrats are going full steam ahead justifying their actions using scientific studies involving animal testing claiming the same effects can occur with human beings.

Human health effects from exposure to low environmental levels of PFAS are uncertain.

Studies of laboratory animals given large amounts of PFAS indicate that some PFAS may affect growth and development. In addition, these animal studies indicate PFAS may affect reproduction, thyroid function, the immune system, and injure the liver.

During the middle of August of last year, The Guardian also published a story making the case for action on PFAS chemicals based on research conducted by the Environmental Working Group based on new data released by the EPA. However, the American Council on Science and Health published a rebuttal to the EPA’s conclusions in which the paper’s author, environmental toxicologist Susan Goldhaber, said the chemicals in question are not dangerous and the data sets used as the basis of the EPA’s conclusions are not supported by science:

The initial data just released from EPA’s Fifth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR-5), a credible data source with a 20-year history, includes data on 29 PFAS, the “forever chemicals.” UCMR-5 requires the collection of water samples in all public drinking water supplies serving more than 3,300 people and a representative sample of those serving fewer than 3,300 people (but does not include private wells) every five years, measuring a different set of unregulated contaminants each time. The initial data from the samples to be collected between 2023 and 2025 were just released, representing approximately 7% of the total results the EPA expects to receive over the next three years.

Although these results represent only a small percentage of the total that will be available in the next few years, they take on increased significance because they will be a primary element of EPA’s support for its proposed drinking water regulation for PFAS, submitted in March 2023. All of the data from the UCMR-5 showing that PFAS occurs in drinking water systems will be used by EPA to support and finalize their regulatory agenda.

Although the percentage of water systems containing PFAS is important, it is secondary to the threshold issue: the EPA’s health advisory, their benchmark for PFAS, is not supported by science and was driven by EPA’s desire to set as low a number as possible. This is what is driving most of the fear around PFOS.     

Human beings are exposed to a wide variety of chemicals almost every day that carry health risks, even those transmitted from plants. Not surprisingly, the EPA is not concerned about the effects of their new rules because it is a political move and not grounded in trying to protect us.

PHOTO CREDIT: Pixabay