EPA’s Whack-a-Mole “Forever Chemicals” Posture Is an Intolerable Failure

The agency must treat PFAS as a class of chemicals regulated in the same manner as the European Union and other countries. To great applause, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency last month proposed “maximum contamination levels” in drinking water for six per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) chemicals. This was the first such action that EPA had taken in more […]

U.S. EPA and California Move Towards Comprehensive PFAS Regulation

In last year’s update, we provided an overview of federal and California regulatory actions designed to protect public health and the environment from the impacts of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). These actions affected a wide variety of stakeholders within the regulated community, including owners of PFAS-contaminated properties, water purveyors, sellers of products containing PFAS, […]

Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Canadian Fast Food Packaging

ABSTRACT: A suite of analytical techniques was used to obtain acomprehensive picture of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) inselected Canadian food packaging used for fast foods (n = 42). Particle-induced gamma ray emission spectroscopy revealed that 55% of thesamples contained A suite of analytical techniques was used to obtain a comprehensive picture of per- and […]

Plastic Recycling Plant Could Sending Toxic Chemicals in the Susquehanna River

Warnings that a large-scale plastics recycling plant planned along a floodplain in Central Pennsylvania could flush toxic PFAS into the Susquehanna River, a major source of drinking water for millions, are stirring a budding opposition movement. The Houston-based startup company Encina, which proposes to build the $1.1 billion advanced recycling plant in Northumberland County, says […]

Why there is no future for ‘forever chemicals’

Peggy Hollinger ⋮ 5-6 minutes ⋮ 3/29/23 In 1987, the world decided to ban chlorofluorocarbons, just two years after discovering that they were depleting the ozone layer. Industry warned of dire economic consequences should the ban go through. Fast forward 36 years and 99 per cent of ozone-depleting substances have been phased out and the […]

Plastic containers can contain PFAS, and it’s getting into food

March 8 2023, by Jessica Sieff In a new study published in Environmental Science & Technology Letters, fluorinated high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic containers—used for household cleaners, pesticides, personal care products and, potentially, food packaging—tested positive for PFAS. Credit: University of Notre Dame Researchers at the University of Notre Dame are adding to their list of […]

PFAS Litigation Begins ‘Tip of the Iceberg’ Turn Toward Insurers,

By Daphne Zhang “There are a lot of PFAS coverage claims, but not all that many coverage lawsuits yet,” said Scott Seaman, a Hinshaw & Culbertson partner who represents insurers. “We’re going to be inundated with a lot more cases.” Only three federal courts have ruled that insurers must pay for companies’ legal bills in […]

PFAS Update: European Chemicals Agency Publishes Proposal That Would Ban or Severely Restrict the Manufacture, Use and Marketing of Thousands of Broadly Used Man-Made PFAS Chemicals

In a move with potential signi cant future rami cations for companies conducting business in Europe, including U.S. and global businesses, authorities from Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden have submitted a regulatory dossier to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) proposing new restrictions aimed at signi cantly reducing the introduction of per-and poly uoroalkyl […]

Plastic containers can contain PFAS — and it’s getting into food

University of Notre Dame Researchers are adding to their list of consumer products that contain PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), a toxic class of fluorine compounds known as ‘forever chemicals.’ In a new study, fluorinated high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic containers — used for household cleaners, pesticides, personal care products and, potentially, food packaging — tested […]

Top US smoothie company accused of deception after toxic PFAS discovered

Tom Perkins – Tue 14 Feb 2023 06.00 EST A new class-action lawsuit alleges US beverage maker Bolthouse Farms deceived customers with claims that its Green Goodness smoothie is made of “100% fruit juice” after testing found the drink contains toxic PFAS, a synthetic chemical, at levels far above federal advisory drinking water limits. PFAS are a […]