PFAS Central: sharing notable news, scientific papers & events
Although useful, PFAS or highly fluorinated chemicals are associated with serious health harm and can remain in the environment forever.
Latest News
‘Forever chemicals’ are known for lingering in the body. Menstruation helps expel them
29 Apr 2024 | The Hill
“Some PFAS bind strongly to proteins in blood, and when women menstruate, they lose those blood proteins linked to PFAS,” Suzanne Fenton, who at the time was a group leader in the Mechanistic Toxicology Branch of the National Toxicology Program at the National Institutes of Health, told The Hill.
Lawyers in PFAS water pollution settlements win $956 mln fee award
25 Apr 2024 | Reuters
A U.S. judge on Tuesday awarded over $956 million in legal fees to plaintiffs’ lawyers who secured two settlements worth more than $11 billion with major manufacturers of toxic “forever chemicals” on behalf of public water systems.
Breaking Down New Rules About ‘Forever Chemicals’
24 Apr 2024 | The New York Times
Lisa Friedman, who covers climate change, discussed the fight to regulate toxic chemicals found in nearly half of America’s tap water.
'Zero evidence': Logan Paul responds to claims of Prime drinks containing PFAS
24 Apr 2024 | USA Today
YouTuber Logan Paul is defending Prime Hydration after the company he co-founded was named in a class action lawsuit claiming its sports drinks contain PFAS.
[Video] What is Canada doing about 'forever chemicals'?
23 Apr 2024 | CBC
Andrew Chang explores how prevalent these chemicals are in our daily lives, why they're so dangerous and what Canada is doing to deal with them.
Latest Science
A Review of Sample Collection and Analytical Methods for Detecting Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Indoor and Outdoor Air
26 Apr 2024 | Chemosphere
This review of two decades of research on PFAS in outdoor and indoor air highlights the persistent presence of various PFAS, including those such as fluorotelomer alcohols and perfluorinated carboxylic acids and thousands more estimated, indicating ongoing environmental contamination despite regulatory measures, underscoring the need for improved air sampling techniques to comprehensively assess PFAS atmospheric distribution.
Characterization of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) and Other Constituents in MSW Landfill Leachate from Puerto Rico
25 Apr 2024 | Chemosphere
Puerto Rico was found to have significantly elevated levels of PFAS in landfill leachate, with 51 PFAS detected above quantitation limits, including previously unreported compounds, indicating a potential risk to island environments and emphasizing the need for informed solid waste management decisions to mitigate PFAS contamination, especially in light of extreme climate events and drinking water contamination.
Quantifying Disparities in Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Levels in Drinking Water from Overburdened Communities in New Jersey, 2019-2021
24 Apr 2024 | Environ Health Perspect
63% of New Jersey's community water systems (serving 84% of the population) tested from 2019 to 2021 had PFAS detections, with overburdened communities more likely to have detections and exposure surpassing state maximum contaminant levels, and a higher proportion of people of color living in affected areas compared to non-Hispanic white populations.
[Perspective] Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Drinking Water-Disparities in Community Exposures Based on Race and Socioeconomic Status
24 Apr 2024 | Environ Health Perspect
Systematic testing and public engagement, especially in rural and private well-dependent communities, are essential to addressing PFAS exposure data gaps and fully assessing disparities in exposures and health risk.
Partitioning of PFAS to serum, tissues, eggs, and hatchlings of an Australian freshwater turtle
15 Apr 2024 | J. Hazard. Mater.
Higher levels of certain PFAS were discovered in male turtles compared to females, with PFOS being the most prevalent in the turtles' tissues, while PFHxA was predominant in the surrounding water. All of the long chain PFAS were transferred from yolk to hatchling, suggesting an intergenerational effect.
Latest Policy
US polluters will pay for PFAS contamination cleanup following EPA ruling
24 Apr 2024
Michael S Regan, EPA administrator, said: “Designating these chemicals under our Superfund authority will allow EPA to address more contaminated sites, take earlier action, and expedite cleanups, all while ensuring polluters pay for the costs to clean up pollution threatening the health of communities.”
Congress introduces ‘non-essential’ PFAS ban bill
24 Apr 2024
The legislation would give manufacturers 10 years to phase out the use of forever chemicals in production.
Biden-Harris Administration Finalizes Critical Rule to Clean up PFAS Contamination to Protect Public Health
19 Apr 2024
EPA action designates two widely used PFAS as hazardous substances under the Superfund law, improving transparency and accountability to clean up PFAS contamination in communities.
Vermont House unanimously passes bill to ban PFAS, or 'forever chemicals'
11 Apr 2024
A roll call vote passed unanimously, with a vote of 130-0.
EPA imposes first national limits on 'forever chemicals' in drinking water
10 Apr 2024
For the first time, the Environmental Protection Agency has established national limits for six types of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances in drinking water.
Opportunities
[Call for Applicants] Two Epidemiological PhD Projects
Event: 1 May 2024
The National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark is looking for applicants for two fully financed PhD student positions.
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