The National Food Agency is lowering the guideline values for several hazardous substances in private water wells, reports SVT. The reduction will take effect from 1 July this year.
The levels for the toxic metals arsenic, lead, and cadmium will now be the strictest within the EU. Prolonged intake of these metals can lead to serious health effects, including an increased risk of various types of cancer, kidney damage, and osteoporosis.
We take health risks seriously and therefore have chosen to lower the values as much as practically possible, says the National Food Agency's toxicologist Sabina Litens Karlsson to the channel.
The guideline values for arsenic and lead are being halved, and the guideline values for cadmium are being reduced to a tenth. For the first time, guideline values are also being introduced for the forever chemicals PFAS 4 and PFAS 21.
The new rules will affect around two million Swedes who get their drinking water from private wells or private water facilities.
