Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand is calling on federal regulators to use new powers under the toxic substances reform bill to determine if the industrial chemical PFOA should be restricted or banned.
The New York Democrat says in a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday that health concerns about the chemical have been heightened by the recent discovery of drinking water contamination in upstate New York, Vermont and New Hampshire.
Gillibrand said an EPA assessment would give a better understanding of the long-term effects of PFOA exposure and ensure communities are better protected.
PFOA, long used to make Teflon and numerous other products, has been linked to cancer and thyroid issues.
EPA has been considering regulation of PFOA under the Toxic Substances Control Act since 2010.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
