Australia Proposes Stricter Limits on PFAS in Drinking Water

The National Health and Medical Research Council's draft guidelines suggest significant reductions in allowable levels of harmful 'forever chemicals.'

The draft guidelines recommend lowering the limit for PFOA from 560 ng/L to 200 ng/L and PFOS from 70 ng/L to 4 ng/L due to their potential health risks.
PFAS, used in products like nonstick cookware and firefighting foams, are persistent environmental contaminants linked to health issues.
The guidelines are based on animal studies and aim to prevent long-term health effects from lifetime exposure through drinking water.
Public consultation on the draft guidelines is open until November 22, 2024, with final guidelines expected by April 2025.
Australia's approach differs from the US, which seeks near-zero levels for carcinogenic compounds, while Australia uses a threshold model.