HADDONFIELD, NEW JERSEY — Gerald Williams, Partner, Williams Cedar LLC, says President Joe Biden’s action to lower the levels of “forever chemicals” to a bare minimum at which it can be measured will mean safer, cleaner drinking water for everyone and will force public water utilities to constantly maintain their infrastructure so that the water supply does not become tainted again.
On April 10, President Biden finalized the first-ever limits on perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, in drinking water. The president called for public water utilities to bring down the amount of PFAS — also known as “forever chemicals” — to the lowest level that can be detected. The Environmental Protection Agency proposed a similar rule last year. The president and the EPA said this will reduce exposure of these pollutants for approximately 100 million Americans and will decrease the probability of cancer, heart attacks and birth defects.
PFAS are a type of chemical that has been used in industrial processes since the 1940s. These chemicals have been used in everything from non-stick frying pans to moisture-repellent fabric to fire-retardant materials. Unfortunately, PFAS are incredibly toxic, and, even in tiny amounts, can cause a variety of health problems, including thyroid disorders, multiple types of cancer, and low birth weight in children.
They also break down incredibly slowly, allowing them to accumulate to toxic levels over a prolonged period. As more information about PFAs has been learned, the lower the recommended safe concentrations for PFAS have gotten.
“For decades, because of corporate deceit regarding their harmful properties, PFASs went entirely unregulated by the federal government, resulting in the exposure of millions of Americans to highly toxic, even carcinogenic pollutants,” Mr. Williams says. “The Administration’s action this week represents a long-awaited first step toward appropriate governmental oversight designed to protect the environment and human health.”
For more information, call (856) 470-9777 or visit williamscedar.com.
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About Williams Cedar LLC
Williams Cedar LLC is a personal injury law firm that serves areas throughout the State of New Jersey, with offices located in Haddonfield. The firm is focused on the practice of personal injury law, employment law, and civil rights litigation, serving victims of negligence and civil rights violations throughout New Jersey. They assist clients with a variety of claims, including product liability claims, toxic torts, wage and hour violations, police misconduct, and malicious prosecution, among others. For more information, call (856) 470-9777 or visit williamscedar.com.
