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
New PFAS Compound in N.J. Water May Be More Toxic Than Older One, Regulators Say
21 Oct 2020 | Consumer Reports
A chemical introduced by the manufacturer Solvay Specialty Polymers USA to replace a now-regulated PFAS substance has been found in New Jersey drinking water, and the company’s own research suggests that it can cause liver damage, according to emails obtained by Consumer Reports.
‘We can never get to zero’: Organics recyclers face hard choices in responding to PFAS contamination
19 Oct 2020 | WasteDrive
In January of this year, the Michigan city of Ann Arbor announced a grim discovery: traces of a notorious group of toxic chemicals had cropped up in the city’s compost facility.
[Press Release] Study: More than 200 million Americans could have toxic PFAS in their drinking water
16 Oct 2020 | EurekAlert
PFAS pollution is affecting even more Americans than we previously estimated. They are likely detectable in all major water supplies in the U.S., almost certainly in all that use surface water.
Gillibrand joins letter urging management of dangerous fire suppressant chemicals that contaminated Fort Drum
14 Oct 2020 | NNY 360
The letter details how PFAS have become a major contaminant in drinking water sources for more than 650 American military bases across the world.
Young, Senate colleagues urge inclusion in NDAA of toxic chemical prevention provisions
13 Oct 2020 | Ripon Advance News Service
The bipartisan group of lawmakers is requesting inclusion of several provisions in the National Defense Authorization Act that would help prevent the potential harm caused by toxic PFAS at American military bases.
Latest Science
Baseline survey of marine sediments collected from the Kingdom of Bahrain: PAHs, PCBs, organochlorine pesticides, perfluoroalkyl substances, dioxins, brominated flame retardants and metal contamination
21 Oct 2020 | Marin. Poll. Bull.
First regional report of PFAS in sediment, with PFOS prevalent in Tubli Bay.
Novel Perfluoroalkyl Ether Carboxylic Acids (PFECAs) and Sulfonic Acids (PFESAs): Occurrence and Association with Serum Biochemical Parameters in Residents Living Near a Fluorochemical Plant in China
20 Oct 2020 | Environ Sci Technol
Analysis of 997 blood samples suggests potential health risks from exposure to novel PFESAs and PFECAs (especially PFO5DoDA).
Effect of perfluorohexane sulfonate on pig oocyte maturation, gap-junctional intercellular communication, mitochondrial membrane potential and DNA damage in cumulus cells in vitro
20 Oct 2020 | Toxicol In Vitro
Exposure to PFHxS induced DNA damage in immature egg cells.
A Cross-Sectional Study of the Association between Perfluorinated Chemical Exposure and Cancers related to Deregulation of Estrogen Receptors
20 Oct 2020 | Environ Res
PFAS were associated with increased odds of ovarian and breast cancers with a positive dose-response relationship.
Perfluoroalkyl acids in pregnant women from Nunavik (Quebec, Canada): Trends in exposure and associations with country foods consumption
20 Oct 2020 | Environ Int
The exposure of pregnant women to long-chain PFAAs (PFNA, PFDA, and PFUdA) increased from 2004 to 2017, potentially through a diet high in fish.
Latest Policy
EU commits to overhaul of chemicals legislation
16 Oct 2020
The European commission adopted the EU Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability on 14 October. This ambitious programme has been touted as the biggest reform of chemical regulations since Reach (registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals).
Policy, health, and justice—focus of October meeting on PFAS contaminants in drinking water
13 Oct 2020
The University of Rhode Island STEEP Superfund Research Center is hosting a conference, “PFAS In Our World: What We Know and What We Can Do,” October 13 and 14, 2020.
California bans PFAS firefighting foams
6 Oct 2020
California is halting the sale, manufacture, and use of firefighting foam that contains PFAS as of 2022.
AGs urge Congress to keep tough PFAS language in defense bill
5 Oct 2020
Congressional leaders should advance legislation that would force the U.S. Department of Defense to comply with state laws regulating toxic “forever chemicals,” urged attorneys general in Michigan and 17 other states.
Massachusetts to set a new MCL for the sum of six PFAS
24 Sep 2020
The MCL of 20 ppt is for the sum of six PFAS: PFOS, PFOA, PFHxS, PFNA, PFHpA, PFDA.
Opportunities
[Informational Webinar] EPA's Innovative Ways to Destroy PFAS Challenge
Event: 23 Nov 2020
EPA is partnering with the other stakeholders, to co-sponsor a technical challenge regarding the destruction of PFAS. The challenge asks solvers to submit detailed plans for a non-thermal way of destroying PFAS in AFFF, while creating the least amount of potentially harmful byproducts with a $50,000 prize.
[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.
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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