In response to a petition filed by clean water advocacy groups, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA, Washington, DC; www.epa.gov) has agreed to review and take what it sees as appropriate action on issues related to the distribution and disposal of three per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) including perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), and perfluorodecanoic acid (PFD).
The NGOs that include the Center for Environmental Health, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, Alaska Community Action on Toxics, and Clean Cape Fear, asked that the agency move quickly to prohibit the manufacture, distribution, and disposal of the so-called “forever chemicals” formed during the fluorination of plastic containers, leveraging Section 6 of the federal Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). The groupings said a new ruling must take effect “as soon as practicable” in order to address the widespread risk of harm to human health, including that of workers in plastics fluorination.