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
PFAS levels in 80% of Okayama townsfolk exceed U.S. guidelines
4 Feb 2025 | The Asahi Shimbun
More than 80 percent of Kibi-Chuo residents tested for cancer-causing organic fluorine compounds in their blood had levels exceeding U.S. guidelines, according to town officials.
Attleboro mayor to request $50M for plant to remove PFAS from drinking water
31 Jan 2025 | George W. Rhodes
Mayor Cathleen DeSimone will be sending a request to the city council to borrow $50 million to fund a plant to remove permanent polyfluoroalkyls, or PFAS, from the drinking water supply.
Scientists Think This Oddball Organism Could Help Take the 'Forever' Out of Forever Chemicals
31 Jan 2025 | Popular Mechanics
With the discovery of bacteria with a predilection for PFOS, scientists hope that they can use F11 in remediation for this type of PFAS.
Zeldin to head EPA sparking debate over PFAS regulation and industry influence
30 Jan 2025 | Great Lakes Now
Committee Chairman Sen. Capito (R-WV) asked Zeldin what he would do about the “forever chemicals” problem, and Zeldin noted that he was a member of the PFAS Task Force and also voted for the PFAS Action Act during his former position as New York congressman.
West Virginia Rivers Coalition lawsuit alleges Chemours' PFAS contamination continues
29 Jan 2025 | WTAP
In a federal lawsuit filed last month in the Southern District of West Virginia, The West Virginia Rivers Coalition alleges that the Washington Works plant continues to discharge excessive amounts of PFAS chemicals into the Ohio River.
Latest Science
Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances and Twin Growth Discordance: New Insights from a Twin Birth Cohort Study
29 Jan 2025 | Environ Sci Technol
Prenatal exposure to PFAS is associated with greater differences in birth weight and height between twin siblings, with non-identical twins being more affected than identical twins.
Emerging Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Tap Water from the American Healthy Homes Survey II
29 Jan 2025 | Environ Sci Technol
Non-targeted analysis of American tap water samples revealed widespread contamination with emerging PFAS, many of which are not detected by standard monitoring methods, highlighting the need for broader PFAS screening to assess human exposure risks.
Anti-icing properties of polar bear fur
29 Jan 2025 | Sci Adv
Polar bear fur naturally prevents ice buildup due to its sebum composition, reducing ice adhesion similarly to fluorocarbon coatings, and providing insights for developing environmentally friendly anti-icing materials.
The Critical Role of Commercial Analytical Reference Standards in the Control of Chemical Risks: The Case of PFAS and Ways Forward
29 Jan 2025 | Environ Health Perspect
Through a PFAS case study, the authors argue that the limited availability of reference standards undermines the ability of scientists to produce independent scientific evidence needed for chemical risk governance and, thereby, prevents society from protecting people and the environment against chemical pollution.
Prenatal Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Relation to Antibody Titers and Infections in Childhood.
28 Jan 2025 | Environ Res
Higher prenatal exposure to PFAS is linked to weaker immune responses in children, leading to lower vaccine antibody levels and increased risk of infections, particularly respiratory illnesses, during early childhood.
Latest Policy
FDA must set limits on PFAS in food, lawsuit says
31 Jan 2025
US regulators are failing to address concerns about toxic PFAS chemicals in foods despite having the scientific tools to do so, according to a lawsuit filed by an environmental group in Tucson, Arizona.
EPA’s PFAS Regulations: What Real Estate Professionals Need To Know
24 Jan 2025
This post outlines key EPA regulations, discusses ongoing legal challenges to those regulations, and highlights important considerations for real estate professionals navigating PFAS issues.
Rep. Blais files bill for private well standards
23 Jan 2025
New legislation filed by state Rep. Natalie Blais seeks the development of minimum statewide quality standards for private wells, as well as the expansion of a financial assistance program for residents trying to remediate wells contaminated by so-called “forever chemicals,” or PFAS.
EPA administrator nominee talks PFAS, plastic and economy during confirmation hearing
17 Jan 2025
Lee Zeldin highlighted his plan to balance protecting the environment with protecting the economy and said working on PFAS passive receiver issues would be on his to-do list if confirmed.
[Press Release] Attorney General Bonta Co-leads Amicus Brief Defending Nationwide PFAS “Forever Chemicals” Drinking Water Standards
17 Jan 2025
California Attorney General Rob Bonta today co-led a coalition of 17 states in filing an amicus brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit defending a U.S. EPA rule establishing the first nationwide drinking water standards for certain toxic PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals,” under the Safe Drinking Water Act.
Opportunities
[Job] Unit Leader - Health Program Manager I
Event: 13 Feb 2025
Under the general direction of the Exposure Assessment Section Supervisor, and in collaboration with the Exposure Surveillance and Epidemiology Unit, the Health Program Manager I (HPM I) will oversee the management of biomonitoring projects as part of the California Environmental Contaminants Biomonitoring Program (also known as Biomonitoring California).
[Public Comment] 2024 Draft PFAS Human Health Water Quality Criteria
Event: 24 Feb 2025
The EPA is accepting written comments from the public on the draft human health criteria through February 24, 2025.
International Conference “PFAS In Soil – Forever Pollution, Forever Concern?”
Event: 25 Mar 2025
The conference will provide an exchange platform for scientists, (political) decision-makers, representatives of authorities as well as experts dealing with PFAS emissions and contamination.