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
Scientists link ‘forever chemicals’ to poor sleep in young adults
4 Oct 2024 | The Hill
Exposure to certain types of “forever chemicals” may be disrupting the sleep quality of young adults — contributing not only to tiredness, but also to potential knock-on health effects, new research has found.
Migrating Seabirds Are Bringing Forever Chemicals Into the Arctic
4 Oct 2024 | Hakai Magazine
Birds carry souvenirs from the south: forever chemicals known as PFAS picked up in more polluted southern waters.
High-End Diaper Maker Defeats Consumer's PFAS Deception Suit
4 Oct 2024 | Bloomberg Law
Coterie Baby Inc., a self-described high-performance baby products company, convinced a federal judge to dismiss a proposed class action alleging it misled consumers by advertising its diapers were free from harmful chemicals despite containing PFAS.
Hunters asked to submit deer tissue samples for PFAS testing near Stella
4 Oct 2024 | Wisconsin Public Radio
Last year, the DNR said some of the highest levels of PFAS contamination in the state and country were found within private wells in the town of Stella. Sampling showed levels as high as 35,000 parts per trillion for two of the most widely studied chemicals: PFOA and PFOS.
DHS issues health advisory for French Island residents
4 Oct 2024 | WEAU
The Wisconsin State Department of Health issued a French Island wide health advisory for residents using private wells in Spring of 2021 due to potential PFAS contamination.
Latest Science
Skin Permeability of Perfluorocarboxylic Acids Using Flow-Through Diffusion on Porcine Skin
7 Oct 2024 | Toxics
Using porcine skin, PFBA showed higher skin permeability compared to other PFAS, and although overall absorption was low, these chemicals can accumulate in the skin, potentially acting as a long-term reservoir. Using porcine skin, PFBA showed higher skin permeability compared to other PFAS, and although overall absorption was low, these chemicals can accumulate in the skin, potentially acting as a long-term reservoir.
Determination of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in six different fish species from Swiss lakes
1 Oct 2024 | Anal Bioanal Chem
Significant PFAS contamination was found in freshwater fish from Swiss lakes, particularly in European Perch, with PFOS and PFHxS levels often exceeding EU safety limits, highlighting the need for ongoing monitoring and regulation to protect aquatic ecosystems and human health through decreased fish consumption.
Kidney function mediates the association of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and heavy metals with hepatic fibrosis risk
30 Sep 2024 | Environ Res
Exposure to heavy metals and PFAS increases the risk of liver damage, with declining kidney function playing a major role in worsening this effect, emphasizing the need to consider kidney health in managing liver disease risks.
Tissue distribution and temporal and spatial assessment of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) in the mid-Atlantic United States
30 Sep 2024 | Environ Sci Pollut Res Int
PFAS contamination was found in smallmouth bass from various river systems in the mid-Atlantic U.S., with higher concentrations linked to areas with more developed land and PFAS facilities like military installations and airports, emphasizing the effects of land use and point sources on fish contamination.
Fluoropolymer sorbent for efficient and selective capturing of per- and polyfluorinated compounds
27 Sep 2024 | Nat Commun
A newly developed reusable polymeric sorbent, PFPE-IEX+, has been shown to efficiently capture over 98% of multiple PFAS contaminants from water sources, including drinking water and landfill leachate, with high sorption capacity and the potential for repeated regeneration.
Latest Policy
EPA’s drinking water limits for PFAS are under threat – and that’s nothing new
2 Oct 2024
Though utilities’ mission is to provide clean water, their trade groups for decades have often fiercely opposed initiatives to improve quality.
EPA Seeks Data on PFAS-Generating Plastics Process to Shape Rule
27 Sep 2024
The EPA is asking companies and the public for information about a plastic-strengthening process that can create PFAS, so the agency can decide whether and how to regulate the production of such plastics.
How the U.S. Military Plans to Tackle Its ‘Forever Chemical’ Problem
25 Sep 2024
The DoD acknowledges its role in creating the PFAS mess and, nominally at least, insists that it is taking steps to clean it up both on military bases and in the affected communities off-base.
U.S. EPA Says it’s Not Obligated to Regulate PFAS-laden Sludge Applied to Land
17 Sep 2024
The EPA and PEER are in a legal dispute over whether the EPA is required to regulate PFAS in sewage sludge used as fertilizer, with PEER arguing that the Clean Water Act mandates regulation of these pollutants due to potential harm.
Three US states call on environmental agency to regulate PFAS air emissions
16 Sep 2024
North Carolina, New Jersey, and New Mexico petitioned regulators to classify some PFAS as hazardous air pollutants.
Opportunities
[Job] EPA Fellowship on Application of Non-Targeted Analysis of PFAS in Biota
Event: 8 Nov 2024
A research training opportunity is available at the EPA, Office of Research and Development, Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, Atlantic Coastal Environmental Sciences Division located in Narragansett, Rhode Island.
[Job] Principal Scientist at The Green Science Policy Institute
Event: 29 Nov 2024
The Green Science Policy Institute would like to hire a Principal Scientist to collaborate with and support the Executive Director and Institute team in carrying out the Institute’s mission to reduce the use of harmful chemicals for healthier products, people, and planet.
[Public comment] US FDA developing post-market assessment process for chemicals in food
Event: 6 Dec 2024
Informational meeting on the proposal will be held on September 25, 2024. Public comment period ends on December 6, 2024
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