Washington State Department of Ecology announces new limits for toxic chemicals in water

OLYMPIA, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Washington has introduced new limits on the amount of toxic chemicals in water.

The Washington State Department of Ecology announced Wednesday, August 14, that it has updated the state's criteria for toxicants in aquatic life to include PFOA and PFOS, aluminum and 6-PPD-quinone (kwin-OWN).

The limit values ​​for PFOA and PFOS – which belong to the chemical group PFAS – are already included in the EPA’s draft update of the national criteria.

Based on feedback received from the public, Ecology says it makes more sense to set these limits now rather than waiting for the EPA to finalize the national amendment.

Washington is also the first state to set a numerical freshwater limit for 6PPD-quinone, a chemical produced when car tires break down.

The agency says the new rules will better protect aquatic life such as fish and invertebrates from the effects of toxic chemicals.

6PPD in particular has been shown to be highly toxic to some salmon and trout.