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
Child growth and development hampered by PFAS in blood, study says
27 Mar 2023 | CNN
Potentially toxic chemicals found in everyday products, including fast-food wrappers, makeup and carpeting, are altering hormonal and metabolic pathways needed for human growth and development, according to a new study.
Researchers Develop Method to Permanently Destroy Toxic ‘Forever Chemicals’ in Water Supply
24 Mar 2023 | EcoWatch
University of British Columbia (UBC) engineers have come up with a new water treatment that safely, efficiently and permanently removes PFAS from drinking water.
Brands worth more than €130 billion want the EU to ban PFAS chemicals
22 Mar 2023 | ChemSec
Many companies are taking a stand against PFAS chemicals as the EU invites the public to give its opinions on the proposed ban on these harmful chemicals.
Utilities see new costs in proposed PFAS water rule
22 Mar 2023 | Roll Call
Water utility groups estimated the national cost for treatment systems would exceed $3.8 billion a year.
Firefighter union sues Mass. group over toxic chemicals in protective gear
20 Mar 2023 | wbur
The International Association of Fire Fighters is suing the Massachusetts-based group that sets national standards for firefighters' protective gear.
Latest Science
The universe of fluorinated polymers and polymeric substances and potential environmental impacts and concerns
27 Mar 2023 | Curr. Opin. Green Sustain. Chem.
The authors suggest that action is needed to address the lack of understanding on polymeric PFAS, but point out that fluoropolymers have already resulted in widespread contamination from their production, manufacturing, and use.
Exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances and women's fertility outcomes in a Singaporean population-based preconception cohort
27 Mar 2023 | Sci. Total Environ.
Higher PFAS exposures were associated with decreased fertility in women, especially for PFDA.
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) registered under REACH—What can we learn from the submitted data and how important will mobility be in PFAS hazard assessment?
27 Mar 2023 | Sci. Total Environ.
Due to lack of data, many PFAS registered under REACH have not been identified as persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic, but still have undesirable properties such as persistence, toxicity, bioaccumulative, and mobile.
Characterization of PFAS Air Emissions from Thermal Application of Fluoropolymer Dispersions on Fabrics
27 Mar 2023 | J Air Waste Manag Assoc
This study reported nontargeted PFAS emission characterization, real-time analyses, and the quantification of 30 volatile targets PFAS from the thermal application of fluoropolymers on fabrics.
Association between early-childhood exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances and ADHD symptoms: A prospective cohort study
25 Mar 2023 | Sci. Total Environ.
Toddlers exposed to moderate levels of PFAS had a higher likelihood of exhibiting ADHD traits at eight years of age.
Latest Policy
EPA Proposes Enforceable Drinking Water Standards For PFAS
24 Mar 2023
Last week EPA released its proposal for the first set of Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs) under the Clean Water Act for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
Trump appointees interfered to weaken EPA assessment of toxic chemical
23 Mar 2023
Watchdog finds PFBS toxicity value was altered in 2021 report, as scientists say episode part of ‘larger rot at the agency.'
ECHA seeks input on proposed PFAS restriction
22 Mar 2023
The European Chemicals Agency invites interested parties to send in scientific and technical information on the manufacture, placing on the market and use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) by 25 September 2023.
Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Report
20 Mar 2023
The NDAA for FY 2021 directs the PFAS ST to identify all currently Federally-funded PFAS research and development; to identify scientific and technological challenges that must be addressed to understand and to significantly reduce the environmental and human health impacts of PFAS.
Pentagon to halt use of firefighting foam that contains PFAS as cleanup costs mount
16 Mar 2023
Battered by years of criticism from U.S. lawmakers and environmental advocates, the Department of Defense will stop purchasing PFAS-containing firefighting foam later this year and phase it out entirely in 2024.
Opportunities
ECHA seeks input on proposed PFAS restriction
Posted: 22 Mar 2023
The European Chemicals Agency invites interested parties to send in scientific and technical information on the manufacture, placing on the market and use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) by 25 September 2023.
[Job] Scientific Director of the Division of Translation Toxicology
Event: 1 May 2023
The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences is seeking exceptional candidates for the position of Scientific Director of the Division of Translation Toxicology.