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
White House, CDC feuding over PFAS health study, causing delays, sources say
29 Nov 2019 | USA Today Network
Scientists say significant delays could limit the effectiveness of the study... “It seems like these kinds of studies should get really expedited reviews because of the concerns these communities have,” Southerland said. Southerland also said the OMB process can serve as a “black box,” where other federal agencies are able to exert influence away from the public eye.
The Packaging Industry Takes on PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’ in our Food Supply
26 Nov 2019 | Civil Eats
In recent years, a series of studies revealed a large portion of compostable and paper food packaging is contaminated with PFAS. World Centric acted quickly, however, and is now part of a massive, industry-wide effort to remove PFAS products from their catalogs.
What ‘Dark Waters’ reveals about corporate science
26 Nov 2019 | Bloomberg Opinion
When the first public concerns abound the compound emerged, DuPont did what too many corporations do: They took a page from Big Tobacco’s playbook and hired a firm to sow doubt about the scientific evidence.
‘Dark Waters’ just the tip of the iceberg
22 Nov 2019 | The Boston Globe
What happened to Parkersburg is a tragedy — tens of thousands of people were poisoned by a cancer-causing chemical called PFOA. What’s more tragic is that Parkersburg is far from alone.
Mark Ruffalo and Robert Bilott on the new film ‘Dark Waters’
21 Nov 2019 | NPR, All Things Considered
“In the end, part of what the debate, I think, about this film should be - and I think it's a debate that we're having nationally - is, do these systems that are made to protect us - are they actually in service of us, or are they in service of a corporate political system? And that's why we can't end this movie with our hero driving away in a SUV and a happy ending.”
Latest Science
[Online Tool] TEDX PFAS Systematic Evidence Map
5 Dec 2019
The Endocrine Disruption Exchange presents its "PFAS Systematic Evidence Map," an interactive database to help end-users assess the large quantity of PFAS literature.
Ultra-Short-Chain Perfluoroalkyl Acids Including Trifluoromethane Sulfonic Acid in Water Connected to Known and Suspected Point Sources in Sweden
4 Dec 2019 | Environ Sci Technol.
Firefighting training sites, landfills, and hazardous waste management facilities found to release ultra-short-chain PFAS into the environment and waterways.
Effect of Sample Storage on the Quantitative Determination of 29 PFAS: Observation of Analyte Interconversions during Storage
4 Dec 2019 | Environ Sci Technol.
Scientists studied the stability of PFAS in water and linked it to exposure processes.
Simultaneous determination of perfluoroalkyl substances and bile acids in human serum using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry
4 Dec 2019 | Anal Bioanal Chem.
This proof of concept study found that the presence of PFAS may negatively affect digestive health.
High throughput UHPLC MS/MS measurement of Per and Poly Fluorinated Alkyl Substances (PFAS) in human serum.
4 Dec 2019 | J Anal Toxicol
A new detection method was developed and used to understand PFAS exposure in Kentucky residents.
Latest Policy
[Public comment] U.S. EPA requests public input on adding PFAS chemicals to the Toxics Release Inventory
25 Nov 2019
U.S. EPA is seeking public comments on potentially adding certain PFAS to the list of chemicals companies are required to report to the agency as part of the Toxics Release Inventory.
[Public comment] California DTSC: Proposal to List Treatments Containing PFASs for Use on Converted Textiles or Leathers as Priority Products
8 Nov 2019
California's DTSC is seeking public comments on the proposal to regulate treatments containing PFAS for use on converted textiles or leathers such as carpets, upholstery, clothing and shoes, as Priority Products under the Safer Consumer Products regulations. Deadline: Tuesday, December 31, 2019.
[Public comment] Systematic review protocol for the PFBA, PFHxA, PFHxS, PFNA, and PFDA IRIS assessments
8 Nov 2019
The U.S. EPA is holding a 45-day public comment period for the systematic review protocol for the PFBA, PFHxA, PFHxS, PFNA, and PFDA IRIS assessments. Deadline: Monday, December 23, 2019.
Congress Quickly Losing Patience With EPA on PFAS
31 Oct 2019
Republicans and Democrats alike on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee said the agency is moving too slowly to set minimum standards for the presence of PFAS in water.
[Public comment] California DTSC: PFAS and their alternatives in food packaging products
26 Oct 2019
California's DTSC is seeking input on specific questions pertaining to PFAS and their alternatives in food packaging products. Deadline: Tuesday, January 14, 2020.
Opportunities
CA DTSC: Treatments Containing PFAS for Use on Converted Textiles or Leathers Workshop
Event: 9 Dec 2019
This workshop can be attended in person or via a webcast. Please note that California's DTSC is also seeking public input on this topic.
[Peer-review] Draft NTP Technical Reports on Toxicology and Carcinogenesis Studies of HMB and PFOA
Event: 12 Dec 2019
NTP is holding a peer-review of draft Technical Reports on toxicology and carcinogenesis studies of HMB and PFOA and will hold a webcast on Dec. 12, 2019 at 10 AM Eastern (Registration is required). Written comments are due on Nov. 20, 2019. Oral comment registration deadline is Dec. 3, 2019.
[Fellowship Opportunity] Postdoctoral and Post-Master's Applicants for Wisconsin Water Resources Science-Policy Fellowship
Deadline: 16 Dec 2019
The University of Wisconsin Water Resources and Sea Grant Institutes in partnership with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (WDHS) offer a fellowship related to water resources management and human health in Wisconsin, with a project focused on developing health-based recommendations for state groundwater protection standards and drinking water health advisory levels for PFAS. View and apply here.
[Public comment] Systematic review protocol for the PFBA, PFHxA, PFHxS, PFNA, and PFDA IRIS assessments
Posted: 8 Nov 2019
The U.S. EPA is holding a 45-day public comment period for the systematic review protocol for the PFBA, PFHxA, PFHxS, PFNA, and PFDA IRIS assessments. Deadline: Monday, December 23, 2019.
[Public comment] California DTSC: Proposal to List Treatments Containing PFASs for Use on Converted Textiles or Leathers as Priority Products
Posted: 8 Nov 2019
California's DTSC is seeking public comments on the proposal to regulate treatments containing PFAS for use on converted textiles or leathers such as carpets, upholstery, clothing and shoes, as Priority Products under the Safer Consumer Products regulations. Deadline: Tuesday, December 31, 2019.
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