January 1, 2023
Per- and poly fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are linked to serious illness. In 2021, the NJ Department of Environmental Protection ruled some PFAS chemicals should be limited to ≤ 13 parts per trillion (ppt) in drinking water. The federal government now advises that maximum exposures for this class of PFAS should be ≤ .004 ppt. There’s a wide difference here.
NJ Senate Democrats have released bills intended to improve PFAS protections. S3176-S3180 would require careful study of PFAS, ban certain products containing PFAS and require clearer labeling, and force landlords and public water systems to disclose PFAS levels in drinking water and educate the public about these chemicals. (Also see "Water Quality Improvement."