The Indiana Department of Environmental Management has now identified 19 drinking water utilities that have levels of PFAS above federal health guidelines.

Indiana has two new laws that aim to highlight and begin addressing the risks firefighters face from wearing gear that contains PFAS. Experts say those chemicals likely increase the risk of cancer and other health issues. Those experts also say the risk goes beyond just firefighters.

The state found harmful PFAS in the treated drinking water at more than two dozen small water utilities in Indiana. Among other things, exposure to the human-made chemicals has been linked to kidney cancer, problems with the immune system and developmental issues in children.

The agency hopes the standards will prevent thousands of deaths and tens of thousands of serious illnesses.

Firefighters were found to be more likely to get diagnosed with cancer and more likely to die from it.

PFOS and PFOA are two types of the group of industrial chemicals called PFAS. PFAS have been linked to cancer, problems with the immune system, and developmental issues in children.

Among other things, the EPA wants to treat groundwater south of the Amphenol site using a barrier to break down harmful chemicals as they flow through.

PFAS are human-made chemicals found in everything from carpets, to fast food wrappers, to firefighting foams on military bases -- like Grissom Air Reserve Base near Kokomo.

Scientific studies have linked PFAS exposure to numerous health problems including thyroid disorders, liver damage, testicular and kidney cancer, pregnancy complications and increased cholesterol levels.

So far, the state has detected little or no toxic PFAS chemicals in Indiana's smaller drinking water utilities. That’s according to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management’s preliminary testing data from 24 smaller water utilities.