VERO BEACH — The EPA has found perfluorooctane sulfonate, a so-called forever chemical known as PFOS, in Vero Beach’s drinking water at 8.4 parts per trillion — more than double the federal maximum contaminant level of 4 ppt.
City officials said the water remains safe to drink despite the exceedance reported in the latest federal testing data released this month.
PFAS chemicals have been widely used since the 1940s in products such as nonstick cookware, food packaging, stain-resistant clothing, and firefighting foam, and do not break down naturally. Exposure has been linked to cancer, immune system suppression, developmental delays in children, and other health problems…