In communities across the United States, clean drinking water, formerly considered a basic human right, has become a privilege, stirring fear in many. This crisis is mainly due to PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, a class/sub-group of toxic "forever chemicals" that cannot be degraded and thus accumulate in the environment and bodies of organisms, including humans. PFAS are linked to cancer, developmental issues, hormonal imbalances, and immune dysfunction, and are found in almost every single American.
Communities of color, low-income communities, and tribal communities bear the highest burden of PFAS exposure in all states throughout the country. Indeed, in California, 69% of state-identified disadvantaged communities had detectable PFAS in their drinking water, and approximately 20% of residents experienced the highest contamination levels in the state. Also, on the national level, particularly, public water systems that are used by a higher proportion of Hispanic and Black residents are considerably more likely to contain PFAs—that is, 32-38% specifically.
Recently, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued the first nationwide drinking water standards for six PFAS chemicals, focusing on obtaining near-zero levels in public water systems in 2 to 5 years. However, critics still point out that the EPA's timeline is relatively slow compared to the urgency of the risks due to exposure. The Environmental Working Group (EWG), one of the major critics of the EPA's approach, reveals that the enforcement may be weak as polluting industries are not mandated to pay for cleanup, meaning rate-payers must pay for these costs, which are mainly low-income households.
3M and DuPont, major polluters of PFAS, have settled lawsuits in court with billions of dollars allocated for mitigation efforts and cleanup. But, contamination near landfill sites persists as they are poorly regulated. PFAS leachate still pollutes nearby groundwater in low-income and minority neighborhoods.