每周，似乎都会有许多文章和新闻稿发表，讲述监管不确定性、立法行动、社区关注以及公众对per-和多氟烷基物质（PFA）的强烈抗议。无论是一场含有大量PFAS泡沫的化学火灾，还是军事和消防人员的长期健康问题，饮用水供应受到影响的报告，或是食品包装被污染的检测——它们无处不在，可能影响数百万人，而且不可能很快消失。
虽然环境保护署（EPA）和立法机构正在采取措施，但全氟辛烷磺酸通常被称为“永久性化学品”，因为它们在环境中不易分解，而且是水溶性的，因此在我们的土壤、地下水、地表水和饮用水中普遍存在。全氟辛酸（PFOA）和全氟辛烷磺酸（PFOS）是4700种全氟辛酸变体中最丰富、最受研究和调控的全氟辛酸化合物。PFAS与许多健康问题有关effects研究表明，PFAS化学物质可能影响儿童发育、生育能力、肝脏健康、激素水平、胆固醇水平，并增加患癌症的风险。
12月20日，特朗普总统签署了《2020年国防授权法案》，使之成为法律，其中规定国防部在2024年10月前停止使用含有灭火泡沫的全氟辛烷磺酸（船上使用除外），并要求对军事消防员进行血液检测，并禁止使用含全氟辛烷磺酸的野战口粮包装。该法案取消了一项根据联邦超级基金法（CERCLA）将这些化学品指定为危险物质的规定，以及一项要求污染者清除PFAS污染的规定。然而，该立法还将全氟辛烷磺酸添加到有毒物质排放清单（TRI）中，这将迫使制造商每年报告其数据，并迫使市政当局披露饮用水中是否发现了全氟辛烷磺酸。
The EPA has established health advisories for PFOA and PFOS at 70 parts per trillion (ppt), but several states have taken the lead by establishing their own regulatory standards. States such as Minnesota have a limit of 15 ppt for PFOS, and California has limits at 14 ppt for PFOA and 13 ppt for PFOS.Thirteen states已经起诉了PFAS的生产商，要求他们提供受污染的水和其他资源。随着PFAS在美国公众话语中的出现，预计美国各州将出现更多的诉讼案件。
It is unclear whether the EPA will deliver a regulatory standard by the end of the year for PFAS as initially projected, but states will likely continue to adopt their own regulations for PFAS in drinking water at levels lower than the EPA’s health advisory. The chemical properties and ubiquitous nature of PFAS may create further challenges for states as certain water infrastructure and remediation efforts are required to combat these compounds. However, adding PFAS to the TRI list (which PFAS chemicals are to be reported and in what capacity is currently unknown) can provide a framework for manufacturers to standardize data collection for the substances and subsequently, greater data to understand PFAS’ relationship to human health and the environment.
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