EPA has limited six ‘forever chemicals’ in drinking water – but there are 15,000

Rules celebrated for reducing exposures, but experts say it's not enough and will lead to an endless game of Whac-A-Mole'

Strong new limits for some PFAS compounds in drinking water set by the US Environmental Protection Agency this week are being celebrated for how far they go in reducing exposures to the dangerous chemicals.

But public health advocates say the rules merely represent a first step that is limited in its impact on the broader PFAS crisis because they do not directly prevent more pollution or force the chemical industry to pay for cleanup.