Statement from Tracey J. Woodruff, PhD, Professor and Director of the UCSF Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment and the UCSF EaRTH Center, on EPA’s new rule to list PFAS as a hazardous substance under the Superfund Law:
This is another important step by EPA to protect people and communities from harmful PFAS chemicals, including legacy PFAS contamination across the US. The science is clear that PFAS chemicals are linked to a wide range of health harms including cancer, damage to cardiovascular and immune systems, poor pregnancy outcomes, and effects on the developing child.
By listing PFOA and PFOS as hazardous substances under the Superfund Law, it means that these chemicals will have to be cleaned up from hazardous waste sites and polluters must pay the bill. This is great news for the many communities grappling with PFAS contamination – many of which are also low income and communities of color.
Industry hid the harms of PFAS for decades. This administration and EPA are to be commended for moving to protect people from the health harms of these highly toxic chemicals.
