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
Health groups accuse state of downplaying nation's largest spill of toxic chemicals: 'Increases the distrust that people have when it comes to government'
19 Oct 2024 | Yahoo!News
At Brunswick Naval Air Station near the coast of Maine, a fire suppression system malfunctioned, spilling about 51,000 gallons of PFAS-containing foam into surface water and causing massive levels of contamination.
Utah advocates want restrictions on pesticides bringing ‘forever chemicals’ into the state
18 Oct 2024 | Idaho Capital Sun
Federal guidelines to test, treat water systems for PFAS may not be enough to protect residents, especially women, children and pregnant mothers from exposure, some doctors say.
EPA assessment of Seacoast Superfund site finds ‘unacceptable added risk’ from PFAS
18 Oct 2024 | New Hampshire Bulletin
Some surface waters and associated wetlands near a Seacoast Superfund site have an “unacceptable added risk” from accidental ingestion, according to a new risk assessment from the Environmental Protection Agency.
‘Forever Chemicals’ Linked to Poorer Sleep
18 Oct 2024 | Yale Environment 360
Young adults with higher levels of certain “forever chemicals” in their blood reported poorer sleep, a new study finds.
[Press Release] USC study finds link between PFAS, kidney function and gut health
17 Oct 2024 | Keck School of Medicine of USC
In the first study of its kind, researchers from the Keck School of Medicine found that problems with gut bacteria and related metabolites can help explain the link between “forever chemicals” and kidney damage.
Latest Science
Regulation of terrestrial input and ocean processes on the occurrence and transport of traditional and emerging per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances in the inner shelf of the East China Sea
21 Oct 2024 | Water Research
Coastal oceans show significant accumulation of PFAS in nearshore waters due to terrestrial inputs, industrial sources, and hydrological conditions, with certain PFAS compounds posing elevated ecological risks in regions like the East China Sea.
PFAS profiles in Biosolids, Composts, and Chemical Fertilizers Intended for Agricultural Land Application in Quebec (Canada)
21 Oct 2024 | J. Hazard. Mater.
Biosolids, sewage sludge, and composts used for sustainable agriculture may contain PFAS chemicals that can accumulate in soil and enter the food chain, with this study finding significant PFAS levels across various biowastes in Quebec, Canada, highlighting concerns about long-term environmental and health risks from repeated applications.
Insights into PFAS contaminants before and after sewage discharges into a marine protected harbour
21 Oct 2024 | Chemosphere
Untreated wastewater discharges in the UK are causing elevated levels of harmful PFAS chemicals in protected marine areas, with significant contamination found in water, seaweed, and oysters, underscoring the need for better wastewater management and a deeper understanding of PFAS impacts on marine ecosystems.
Fluorotelomer Alcohol (FTOH) Emission Rates from New and Old Rain Jackets to Air Determined by Iodide High-Resolution Chemical Ionization Mass Spectrometry
16 Oct 2024 | Indoor Environments
Older rain jackets released high amounts of fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOHs) into indoor air, raising concerns about indoor PFAS exposure through clothing, and even newer “PFAS-free” jackets emitted small amounts of PFAS, likely through contamination during transport or storage.
Comprehensive analysis of PFAS presence from environment to plate
16 Oct 2024 | npj Science of Food volume
Fish, seafood, and biota show the highest PFAS concentrations due to environmental contamination and bioaccumulation, along along with frequent detections in surface water, raising concerns about long-term ecological and human health effects.
Latest Policy
EPA Proposes to Add 16 PFAS and 15 PFAS Categories to the TRI List of Chemicals
18 Oct 2024
The U.S. EPA proposed on October 8, 2024, to add 16 individual PFAS and 15 PFAS categories representing more than 100 individual PFAS to the Toxics Release Inventory list of toxic chemicals subject to reporting to comply with the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020.
USDA’s ARS Develops Long-Term Roadmap for PFAS in U.S. Agriculture
18 Oct 2024
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service announced on October 16, 2024, several key outcomes from a workshop held to develop a research roadmap leading to short- and long-term science-based solutions to meet the challenges posed by the discovery of PFAS in agricultural soils and waters.
Brown Demands That Department of Defense Block Further PFAS Incineration in East Liverpool
10 Oct 2024
U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) called on the Department of Defense to block the resumption of incineration as an approved PFAS disposal method in East Liverpool and communities across the country. PFAS – perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances – often referred to as “forever chemicals” – pose a threat to public health and is designated by the EPA as a hazardous substance.
Kildee Leads Bipartisan Effort to Protect Michigan Residents from Harmful PFAS Chemicals
9 Oct 2024
Congressman Dan Kildee (MI-08),co-chair of the bipartisan Congressional PFAS Task Force, joined Senator Gary Peters (D-MI) in sending a letter to U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) Inspector General Robert Storch requesting an updated report on DoD’s efforts to clean up toxic PFAS chemicals at military sites—and in surrounding communities—in Michigan.
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.
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
[Job] Postdoctoral Analytical Chemist - USDA
Event: 31 Dec 2024
The USDA, Agricultural Research Service, in Wyndmoor, PA, is seeking a Postdoctoral Research Associate to conduct research on targeted and non-targeted analysis of PFAS in food and food packaging.
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