The Environmental Protection Agency announced last week it will eliminate Biden-era drinking water regulations targeting PFAS chemicals, commonly known as "forever chemicals," while pursuing alternative approaches to address contamination.

The agency said it is cutting regulations on four PFAS compounds and delaying implementation for two additional chemicals. The previous administration had established limits on these synthetic chemicals, which persist in the environment and human body for extended periods.

Instead of the regulatory approach, the Trump administration plans to focus on attempting to destroy PFAS chemicals on a wide scale. Environmental advocates have criticized this strategy, arguing it mirrors carbon capture technologies used by the fossil fuel industry.

Public health advocates maintain that strong regulatory limits combined with dramatic reductions in PFAS production are necessary to protect human health. PFAS chemicals have been linked to various health concerns and are found in numerous consumer products.

The policy shift represents a significant change from the previous administration's approach to addressing PFAS contamination in drinking water supplies. The chemicals are widely used in manufacturing and have been detected in water systems across the United States.

The EPA's announcement affects regulations that were designed to limit exposure to these persistent chemicals through drinking water, which represents a primary exposure pathway for many Americans.