In December, EPA released draft national recommendations for health-based levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in waterbodies. The recommendations are information for entities, including state agencies, to consider when setting water quality standards.

PFOA, PFOS, and PFBS
EPA issued draft recommendations for three PFAS, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS), and perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS).

Not Regulatory Requirements
EPA’s goal in releasing the recommendations is to identify concentrations at or below where they are not expected to cause adverse human health effects from chronic (lifetime) exposure. They are not regulatory requirements; they do not consider economic impacts or the technological feasibility of meeting the concentrations in ambient water, additional factors that agencies may consider when setting water quality standards.

Comments Accepted
EPA will accept comments on the draft recommendations on or before February 24, 2025.

To see EPA’s news release, which has a link to access the Fact Sheet, the Federal Register publication, and more detailed information on each individual recommendation, https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-releases-draft-health-based-recommendations-pfas-levels-bodies-water