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
[Op-ed] Hazardous chemicals and government silence — a dangerous mix
26 Mar 2020 | The Hill
Imagine this: More than six million Americans have drinking water that is poisoned by a group of closely related chemicals.
Pentagon cleanup of toxic ‘forever chemicals’ likely to last decades
22 Mar 2020 | The Hill
The Defense Department now has 651 sites it suspects could be contaminated with PFAS. Their timeline shows it will take anywhere from six to 13 years before DOD will begin cleaning up PFAS.
INSIGHT: Congress Confronts PFAS in National Defense Authorization Act—What you need to know
20 Mar 2020 | Bloomberg Environment
The final version of the NDAA dropped provisions that would have: (1) designated 4,000 PFAS as hazardous substances under CERCLA; (2) restricted PFAS discharges into drinking water supplies under the Clean Water Act; and (3) required water utilities to reduce the amount of PFAS in tap water.
3M announces progress on PFAS initiatives and actions
19 Mar 2020 | Business's Wire (StreetInsider.com)
3M has launched a research clearinghouse webpage and is releasing previously unavailable PFAS reference standards.
Groups bring suit over secret approval process for PFAS chemicals
18 Mar 2020 | Courthouse News Service
In approving these chemicals without restriction, the EPA is certifying that the substances are not likely to pose an unreasonable risk.
Latest Science
Dam operation altered profiles of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in reservoir
24 Mar 2020 | J of Haz. Mat.
PFAS profiles in the water column changed from PFOA to short-chain species during dam operation.
Temporal trends of suspect- and target-per/polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), extractable organic fluorine (EOF) and total fluorine (TF) in pooled serum from first-time mothers in Uppsala, Sweden, 1996–2017
24 Mar 2020 | Environ. Sci.: Processes Impacts
Total PFAS levels were found to be declining by 3% per year in Swedish first-time mothers.
Metabolic and Pharmaceutical Aspects of Fluorinated Compounds
24 Mar 2020 | J of Medi. Chem.
A review of the literature associated with the metabolism of fluorinated molecules, focusing on examples where the presence of fluorine influences the metabolic profile.
Perfluorooctanoic acid exposure impact a trade-off between self-maintenance and reproduction in lizards (Eremias argus) in a gender-dependent manner
24 Mar 2020 | Environ. Poll.
Female and male lizard's bodies found to process PFAS pollution differently.
Maternal serum perfluoroalkyl substance mixtures and thyroid hormone concentrations in maternal and cord sera: The HOME study
24 Mar 2020 | Environ. Res.
PFOS had a positive trending association with thyroid-stimulating hormones.
Latest Policy
[Public Comment] Proposed restriction of PFHxA, its salts and related substances
25 Mar 2020
Germany has submitted a proposal to restrict the manufacture and commerce of PFHxA and is now seeking comments from the public.
Shaheen, Carper & Schumer Introduce Landmark Legislation to Fund PFAS Cleanup
17 Mar 2020
U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) introduced legislation with Senators Tom Carper (D-DE) and Chuck Schumer (D-NY) to help communities combat per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination and exposure in drinking water and groundwater.
[Public comment] California DTSC: PFASs in carpets and rugs
28 Feb 2020
California's DTSC is seeking public comment on the regulatory proposal to list carpets and rugs containing PFAS as a priority product. Deadline: Monday, April 13, 2020. Public hearing will be held on April 13 at 9 AM in Sacramento, CA.
[Public comment] Draft scientific opinion on the risks to human health related to the presence of perfluoroalkyl substances in food
24 Feb 2020
The European Food Safety Authority is holding consultation for the proposed PFOA+PFOS+PFHxS+PFNA tolerable weekly intake of 8 ng/kg of body weight per week. Parts of the European population exceed this level with fish, fruit, and eggs being the largest sources of exposure. Comment period ends on April 20, 2020.
ECOS White Paper: Processes & considerations for setting state PFAS standards
13 Feb 2020
The Environmental Council of the States (ECOS) compiled information from 23 states on their processes, rulemaking requirements, and other considerations for establishing PFAS guidelines.
Opportunities
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.
[Public hearing] California DTSC: PFASs in carpets and rugs
Event: 13 Apr 2020
California's DTSC is seeking public comment on the regulatory proposal to list carpets and rugs containing PFAS as a priority product. Public hearing will be held on April 13 at 9 AM in Sacramento, CA.
[Public comment] California DTSC: PFASs in carpets and rugs
Posted: 28 Feb 2020
California's DTSC is seeking public comment on the regulatory proposal to list carpets and rugs containing PFAS as a priority product. Deadline: Monday, April 13, 2020. Public hearing will be held on April 13 at 9 AM in Sacramento, CA.
[Public comment] Draft scientific opinion on the risks to human health related to the presence of perfluoroalkyl substances in food
Posted: 24 Feb 2020
The European Food Safety Authority is holding consultation for the proposed PFOA+PFOS+PFHxS+PFNA tolerable weekly intake of 8 ng/kg of body weight per week. Parts of the European population exceed this level with fish, fruit, and eggs being the largest sources of exposure. Comment period ends on April 20, 2020.
FLUOROS 2020: An International Symposium on Fluorinated Compounds and Their Impacts on Human and Environmental Health
Event: 13 Oct 2020
An opportunity for unbiased and multidisciplinary exchange of information regarding the latest developments and scientific advances on PFAS. Participants will share the latest knowledge and resources concerning the environmental and biomedical advances on PFAS and their work towards minimizing both human exposure and environmental effects related to PFAS.
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