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
First-of-its-kind study estimates daily PFAS dietary exposure from vegetables in adults and children
23 Nov 2020 | Mines Newsroom
The team used real-world data from PFAS-contaminated groundwater to conduct a hazard analysis of a theoretical farm comparing different risk estimates based on established state, federal, and international toxicity reference doses.
Pittsboro task force recommends “deep discounts” so poor residents can afford clean drinking water
23 Nov 2020 | North Carolina Health News
The Pittsboro Drinking Water Task Force wants the town to provide deeply discounted reverse osmosis filtration systems to low-income residents while it continues to explore permanent solutions for a community rocked by contaminated drinking water.
Newly released data disclose Navy knew of toxic PFAS chemicals in groundwater at Grumman ‘fence line’ in 2016
21 Nov 2020 | Riverhead Local
The Navy had not previously disclosed the data on PFAS chemicals in samples taken at the fence line system dating back to December 2017 — and in one instance, September 2016.
State: 193 discharge facilities report PFAS
20 Nov 2020 | Colorado Politcs
A map of discharge permit-holders mostly indicated a potential or actual presence of foam or other PFAS-containing material along the Front Range and pockets of the Western Slope.
Well water throughout California contaminated with ‘forever chemicals’
19 Nov 2020 | CALmatters
Californians are largely left in the dark about the safety of their drinking water: Less than 9% of roughly 14,350 public drinking water wells in the state have been tested for PFOA and PFOS. State requirements have focused on areas considered vulnerable to contamination, such as near airports and landfills.
Latest Science
Assessing Human Health Risks from Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance (PFAS)-Impacted Vegetable Consumption: A Tiered Modeling Approach.
25 Nov 2020 | Environ Sci Technol
A hazard analysis based on real-world PFAS-contaminated groundwater data found that water-to-crop transfer is an important exposure pathway for communities with PFAS-impacted irrigation water.
PFAS Thermal Destruction at Wastewater Treatment Facilities: A State of the Science Review
24 Nov 2020 | Water
This review covers available research on the fate of PFAS through incineration systems with a focus on sewage sludge incinerators.
Perfluoroalkyl acids in rapidly developing coastal areas of China and South Korea: Spatiotemporal variation and source apportionment
24 Nov 2020 | Sci Total Environ
Results of this study provide novel insights into elucidating the spatiotemporal distribution and complicated sources of PFASs over a large area and provide a clear message for all stakeholders, water and coastal managers, and scientists.
Gestational perfluoroalkyl substance exposure and body mass index trajectories over the first 12 years of life
24 Nov 2020 | Int J Obes (Lond)
Gestational PFOA exposure may be associated with adult obesity and cardiometabolic disease, while PFOS and PFHxS exposure is associated with lower BMI in the first 12 years of life.
Early-life perfluorooctanoic acid exposure induces obesity in male offspring and the intervention role of chlorogenic acid
24 Nov 2020 | Environ Pollut
PFOA exposure during early life stage induced potential risks for later onset of obesity and metabolic disorders.
Latest Policy
Governor Cuomo Signs Legislation Banning Incineration of Firefighting Foam Containing PFAs in Certain New York Cities
24 Nov 2020
Governor Cuomo today signed legislation banning the incineration of AFFF containing PFAS, the emerging contaminants known as PFAS, in certain cities.
Biden EPA transition team member helped DuPont dodge responsibility for PFOA
11 Nov 2020
Michael McCabe, a former EPA official and aide to Joe Biden, led DuPont’s defense of PFOA avoiding regulation that would have cost DuPont dearly.
The Biden plan to secure environmental justice
10 Nov 2020
Biden will tackle PFAS pollution by designating PFAS as a hazardous substance, setting enforceable limits for PFAS in the Safe Drinking Water Act, prioritizing substitutes through procurement, and accelerating toxicity studies and research on PFAS.
Attorney General, DEP Commissioner Announce Two New Natural Resource Damage Lawsuits over Contamination of Riverfront Sites
10 Nov 2020
AG Gurbir S. Grewal and DEP Commissioner Catherine R. McCabe today announced the filing of two lawsuits to compel the clean-up of contamination and recover Natural Resource Damages.
Producing Ignorance Through Regulatory Structure: The Case of Per-and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)
3 Nov 2020
A review of the current American regulatory system using PFAS to highlight how chemical manufacturers control knowledge production and dissemination among other problems.
Opportunities
[Job opportunity] Postdoctoral Associate at the Center for Clean Water Technology at Stony Brook University
Deadline: 28 Nov 2020
The Center for Clean Water Technology at Stony Brook University seeks a highly motivated Postdoctoral Associate to perform research in the water treatment of emerging contaminants (e.g. PFAS) in drinking water. Find more information and apply here.
[Job opportunity] Postdoctoral Research Associate at Indiana University
Event: 1 Dec 2020
The Integrated Atmospheric Deposition Network team at Indiana University is looking for a postdoctoral research associate for a two-year appointment.
Ecology seeking comments on action plan to address PFAS contaminants
Posted: 24 Oct 2020
The Washington state Department of Ecology is seeking public comment on its plan to address a class of highly persistent chemicals that don’t break down in the environment.
National Priorities: Evaluation of Pollutants in Biosolids Request for Applications
Deadline: 5 Jan 2021
The U.S. EPA is seeking applications proposing research that will provide the best available science in determining potential risk from pollutants, such as PFAS, found in biosolids and developing standards and policies for biosolids management. Find more information and apply here.
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