PFAS Central: sharing notable news, scientific papers & events

News

Maine dairy farmer’s blood tests high for ‘forever chemicals’ from toxic sludge

Blood tests performed on Arundel dairy farmer Fred Stone show levels of the “forever chemicals” 20 times the national average more than two years after he and his wife stopped drinking the milk and water on the farm. Learn more
Science

Fate and transport of perfluoroalkyl substances from snowpacks into a lake in the High Arctic of Canada

PFAS found to cycle between high arctic lakes and fresh snowpack in remote Canadian mountains. Learn more
Policy

New York: The Nation's Most Protective MCLs for PFOA/PFOS Accepted

New York's Health Commissioner has accepted the Drinking Water Quality Council's recommendation to adopt MCLs of 10 ppt for PFOA and 10 ppt for PFOS. These levels are the lowest in the nation. Once adopted, the Environmental Facilities Corporation and the Department of Environmental Conservation will closely coordinate with the Department of Health to help fund and remediate water systems that test above the new maximum contaminant levels. Learn more

Although useful, PFAS or highly fluorinated chemicals are associated with serious health harm and can remain in the environment forever. Learn more

Latest Science

Characteristics and human inhalation exposure of ionic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in PM10 of cities around the Bohai Sea: Diurnal variation and effects of heating activity

20 Aug 2019 | Sci. of Total Env.

Day light heat found to affect PFAS levels in the air.

Plant Uptake of PFAAs Under a Maximum Bioavailability Scenario.

20 Aug 2019 | Environ. Toxicol. Chem.

PFAS accumulation in radish, carrots, and alfalfa found to be a potential source of human dietary exposure.

Reduction of perfluorinated compound content in fish cake and swimming crab by different cooking methods

19 Aug 2019 | Appl. Bio. Chem.

Soaking crab, before cooking, found to reduce PFAS levels up to 65%.

Stronger estrogenic and antiandrogenic effects on zebrafish larvae displayed by 6:2 polyfluoroalkyl phosphate diester than the 8:2 congener at environmentally relevant concentrations

19 Aug 2019 | Sci. of Total Env.

Greater endocrine disruption was found with shorter chain PFAS than longer chain counterparts.

Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in air-conditioner filter dust of indoor microenvironments in Greece: Implications for exposure

19 Aug 2019 | Ecotox. and Env. Safety

Testing of indoor air found varying sources depending on location.

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Latest Policy

Germany, Central and North Baden: PFAS in paper sludge & agriculture

7 Aug 2019

Information on PFAS contamination of agricultural land and drinking water resources in Germany by paper sludge application.

Michigan: PFAS & biosolids

5 Aug 2019

Information on the first case of PFAS biosolids contamination in Michigan and their Industrial Pretreatment Program's guidance.

Bipartisan Legislation to Protect Firefighters from Hazardous PFAS Chemicals

1 Aug 2019

U.S. Senators GaryPeters (D-MI), Cory Gardner (R-CO), Dan Sullivan (R-AK) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) today introduced bipartisan legislation to help protect the health and safety of firefighters and emergency responders who are frequently exposed to harmful per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in firefighting foams as they work to keep communities safe.

Is the burst of the AFFF bubble a precursor to long term environmental liabilities?

29 Jul 2019

A comprehensive analysis of why airports should make a switch to fluorine free foam. It provides an encouragingly long list of airports throughout the world, which have already made this switch.

N.H. approves unprecedented limits for PFAS chemicals in drinking water

19 Jul 2019

New Hampshire adopted the country’s most sweeping limits for PFAS chemical contamination in drinking water. It makes New Hampshire the first state to require local water systems, landfills and wastewater plants to routinely test and treat for four chemicals classified as PFAS.

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Opportunities

New Opening: Postdoctoral Research Associate Position with PFAS Project Lab – Northeastern University

Deadline: 31 Aug 2019

Northeastern University’s Social Science Environmental Health Research Institute (SSEHRI) seeks a postdoctoral research associate to work in the PFAS Project Lab (pfasproject.com), led by Phil Brown (Northeastern) and Alissa Cordner (Whitman College). This is a two-year postdoctoral position based in Boston, MA. The Lab currently has two faculty members, one postdoc, one research scientist, two graduate students, and three undergraduates, and has strong connections through grants and projects with Silent Spring Institute, Environmental Working Group, and Green Science Policy Institute.

For More Info/To Apply: Click Here

National Academies Workshop: Identifying Opportunities to Understand, Control, and Prevent Exposure to PFAS

Event: 26 Sep 2019

The first workshop of the Environmental Health Matters Initiative (EHMI) will discuss human exposure to PFAS as well as innovative approaches to controlling and preventing exposure. 

Northeast Conference on the Science of PFAS: Public Health & the Environment

Event: 31 Mar 2020

NEWMOA, in collaboration with others, has organized a conference to ensure that action to address PFAS contamination is informed by the most current and reliable science. There is also an open call for conference presenters, posters, and sponsors.

PFAS Central Partners

Green Science Policy Institute Northeastern University Social Science Environmental Health Research Institute