WASHINGTON (7News) — More than 150 million Americans drink water contaminated with toxic forever chemicals. Last year, after decades of inaction, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) set limits to protect public health. Now, that same agency is undoing those defenses.

Some protections designed to save lives from a dangerous class of chemicals in drinking water are being shut off.

It’s a move being called “devastating” by some experts, including Melanie Benesh, Vice President for Government Affairs at the Environmental Working Group.

“Every time we look at these chemicals, we discover that they are more toxic than we had previously thought,” Benesh said.

She’s been working to protect Americans from PFAS chemicals for years.

Linked to developmental issues in kids, cancer, and reproductive harm, these toxic “forever” chemicals contaminate the water supply from industrial releases, landfills, and firefighting foam.

“There was a strong scientific basis for restricting these, and the result of removing the limitations on these four chemicals is that drinking water is ultimately going to be less safe,” said Benesh.

Last year, the EPA set strict limits on some PFAS chemicals, including the most prevalent ones, PFOA and PFOS.

The EPA estimated the move would prevent 9,600 deaths and 30,000 illnesses related to PFAS exposure.

Now, four of those limits are being rescinded under the new EPA. Among them: PFHxS, which faced one of the strictest standards.

Benesh said the limits were set low because the chemical is so dangerous.

“Because of those immune effects, because of reproductive and developmental harms that are associated with exposure to that chemical,” Benesh said. “It’s a dangerous chemical, and it’s a pretty widespread chemical. We found it in a lot of drinking water sources.”

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