OLYMPIA, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Washington has new limits for how much toxic chemicals can be in the water.

The Washington State Department of Ecology announced on Wednesday, Aug. 14 that it updated the state’s aquatic life toxics criteria to include PFOA and PFOS, aluminum and 6 PPD-quinone (kwin-OWN).

PFOA and PFOS limits – which are part of the PFAS chemical group – are already on the EPA’s draft for national criteria updates.

Ecology says that through the public feedback it received, it makes more sense to set those limits now instead of waiting for the national change to be finalized by the EPA.

Washington is also the first state to set a numeric, freshwater limit for 6PPD-quinone, which is a chemical that comes from the breakdown of vehicle tires.

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 proven to be highly toxic to some salmon and trout.