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
They drove to the Capitol to testify on a bill and got a grueling lesson in Texas democracy
9 May 2025 | The Texas Tribune
The group from Johnson County waited 18 hours to testify at a hearing that started at 1 a.m. on a bill to limit toxic chemicals in fertilizer.
PFAS breakthrough: ‘forever chemical’ banned under global treaty
8 May 2025 | SwissInfo
International negotiations in Geneva have led to a major breakthrough: the addition of a new "forever chemical" to the Stockholm Convention's blacklist. It marks another crucial step in the global effort to regulate what many now call the "poison of the century”.
Sewage sludge fertilizer from Maryland? Virginians say no thanks.
8 May 2025 | The New York Times
To protect its food and drinking water, Maryland has started restricting the use of fertilizer made from sewage sludge. At the same time, a major sludge-fertilizer maker, Synagro, has been applying for permits to use more of it across the state border, on farms in Virginia.
Map Shows Where Beers Are Most Contaminated With Chemicals: Study
7 May 2025 | Newsweek
A new study by researchers at RTI International has found that several American beers contain measurable levels of "forever chemicals," with the source traced primarily to municipal drinking water used in the brewing process.
Toxic PFAS detected in groundwater around NC landfills
7 May 2025 | WRAL News
New data from the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality shows PFAS “forever chemicals” are turning up in groundwater around landfills across the state, sometimes at levels thousands of times higher than the federal drinking water limit.
Latest Science
Incidence of respiratory diseases associated with per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in PM2. 5: New evidence from a population-based survey of Pearl River Delta (PRD), China
12 May 2025 | J. Hazard. Mater.
A large-scale study in China found that exposure to PFAS chemicals in fine particulate air pollution (PM2.5) was strongly associated with increased rates of respiratory diseases—such as asthma, cough, and rhinitis—in children and adolescents, highlighting PFAS in air as an underrecognized but serious health risk.
Atmospheric emission of per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from a fluoropolymer manufacturing facility: Focus on emerging PFAS and the potential contribution of condensable PFAS on their atmospheric partitioning
12 May 2025 | Environ. Sci. Technol.
A major fluoropolymer manufacturing facility in China was found to emit dozens of previously undetected PFAS—including emerging compounds like Cl-PFECAs and multi-head PFESs—into the air and surrounding environment, raising concern about widespread contamination and the need for stronger oversight of industrial PFAS emissions.
Diet quality in relation to serum perfluoroalkyl substance concentrations in Canadian preadolescents
6 May 2025 | Environ Res
In Canadian preadolescents, higher dietary intake of fat, fiber, and iron was associated with increased blood concentrations of several PFAS—especially PFOS, PFDA, and PFHxS—suggesting that most diets may contribute to PFAS exposure through contaminated food systems.
Elevated per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in tap water and serum in a community near an abandoned paper mill
5 May 2025 | Environ Adv.
Long-term exposure to PFAS-contaminated drinking water in a Michigan community was identified as a primary predictor of chronic elevated serum levels.
Environmental impact of PFAS incineration
5 May 2025 | Waste Management Bulletin
Improper incineration of PFAS firefighting foam can release high levels of greenhouse gases.
Latest Policy
Dingell and McDonald Rivet to co-chair congressional PFAS task force
9 May 2025
Two Michigan Democrats announced they will serve as co-chairs of the Bipartisan Congressional PFAS Task Force, working to stem the spread of so-called “forever chemicals” in communities across the nation.
Oregon Legislature bans firefighting foam containing PFAS
5 May 2025
The Oregon Legislature has passed a bill aiming to protect the health of the state’s firefighters and the environment.
EPA PFAS “Action List” Answers Little and Raises New Questions
1 May 2025
Under the Trump administration, uncertainty has been the theme of predictive conversations related to actions that the new administration might take related to PFAS.
Administrator Zeldin Announces Major EPA Actions to Combat PFAS Contamination
28 Apr 2025
In this suite of actions, Administrator Zeldin announced a long list that included in part the designation of an agency lead for PFAS, the creation of effluent limitations guidelines for certain PFAS to stop these forever chemicals from entering drinking water systems, and initiatives to engage with Congress and industry to establish a clear liability framework that ensures the polluter pays and passive receivers are protected.
EPA Asks Court for 30 Days to Finish PFAS Superfund Rule Review
25 Apr 2025
The EPA asked a federal appeals court on Friday to give the agency’s new leadership more time to conclude their review of a rule making two PFAS hazardous substances under Superfund.
Opportunities
Addressing the risks from Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)
Event: 26 May 2025
We welcome submissions from anyone with answers to the questions in the call for evidence. You can submit evidence until Monday 26 May 2025.
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