The Environmental Protection Agency has added new toxins to the list of "forever chemicals," requiring companies to help track their impact on the environment.
The Toxics Release Inventory will be expanded to include nine new substances that companies will have to track if they are released into the environment above certain levels.
Newsweek contacted the Environmental Protection Agency for more information on the new policy via email.
Why It Matters
Forever chemicals, also known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAs), are substances that exist for an extended period of time without biodegrading. They are found in a range of everyday products, and can have significant environmental impact.
The new policy shows that the EPA is committed to carrying out the Biden administration's goal of increasing transparency on forever chemicals, even as the White House is set to change hands in just a few weeks.
What To Know
The nine new chemicals being added to the list are a variety of salts and acids, including fluorotelomer sulfonate potassium salt and odium perfluorodecanoate, which are used in the manufacturing of dyes.
In the EPA's statement, the agency said that the purpose of the Toxics Release Inventory was to help communities identify the impact of local facilities on their environment.
Last year, a joint study in the U.K. and China found that two pervasive PFAS—called perfluorooctanoic acid and perfluorooctane sulfonate—were detected in over 99 percent of bottled water samples from 15 countries globally.
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry has warned that exposure to PFAs can lead to increased blood cholesterol and blood pressure, reduced immunity, reproductive issues and an increased risk of certain cancers.
What People Are Saying
In a statement on January 3, Michal Freedhoff, assistant administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, said: "EPA continues to make strides in getting information on PFAS into the Toxics Release Inventory so the public can see if these chemicals are being released into their communities.
"People have a right to know when facilities in their backyards are releasing toxic chemicals into the environment and with today's action, we are providing important information about nine more."
What Happens Next
The incoming Trump administration, which returns to the White House on January 20, has pledged to overturn several of Biden's environmental policies.
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About the writer
Theo Burman
Theo Burman is a Newsweek Live News Reporter based in London, U.K. His focus is on U.S. politics and international ...
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