Natural Resources Board allows groundwater toxins

The Wisconsin Natural Resources Board has approved weakened regulations for PFAS “forever chemicals” in public water supplies and blocked a rule to limit them in groundwater, according to a report from the Wisconsin State Journal. In a 3–3 vote with one abstention, conservatives on the board rejected rules to limit certain fluorinated compounds known as PFAS in groundwater. Later, the board voted to approve weakened PFAS standards for public drinking water, which apply to municipal systems, trailer parks, schools, and other institutions where people get drinking water regularly. PFAS synthetic chemicals do not break down naturally and have been linked to health problems including low birth weight, cancer, and liver disease.