Landmark regulations against 'forever' toxins removed by Trump administration

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Source: CNN Health

Updated May 18, 2026, 9:35 PM ET
PUBLISHED May 18, 2026, 5:42 PM ET


Key Biden-era regulations designed to protect the nation’s drinking water from the most dangerous cancer-causing per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, were removed by the Trump administration Monday.

Manufactured since the 1940s to make products nonstick, stain-resistant and water-repellent, PFAS chemicals have been linked to cancer, obesity, thyroid disease, high cholesterol, decreased fertility, liver damage, hormone disruption and damage to the immune system, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency. Because PFAS can last for many decades in the environment, they are often referred to as “forever” chemicals.

Claiming the Biden administration failed to follow the law by cutting regulatory corners, the EPA will “rescind and restart” regulations on four PFAS, US Environmental Protection Agency EPA Administration Lee Zeldin said in a press briefing.

Those chemicals include perfluorononanoate (PFNA), perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS) and hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA), the last one often referred to as a GenX chemical. All are considered dangerous to public health. In addition, the administration eliminated restrictions on mixtures of PFNA, PFHxS, GenX and a fourth chemical, perfluorohexanesulfonic acid (PFHxS). Mixtures of PFAS are even more dangerous to health, experts say.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2026/05/18/health/trump-pfas-rollback-wellness