Proposed rule on PFAS ‘forever chemicals’ could cost companies $1 billion, but health experts say it still falls short

By Michael Scaturro | CBS News | July 5, 2023

Read the full article by Michael Scaturro (CBS News)

“A proposed federal rule calls for forcing companies to disclose whether their products contain toxic ‘forever’ chemicals, the government’s first attempt at cataloging the pervasiveness of PFAS across the United States.

The Environmental Protection Agency rule would require manufacturers to report many products that contain perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances. They’re a family of chemicals that don’t degrade in nature and have been linked to cancer, birth defects, and hormone irregularities.

Companies would have to disclose any PFAS that have been manufactured or imported between 2011 and when the rule takes effect, with no exemptions for small businesses or for impurities or byproducts cross-contaminating goods with PFAS. Those disclosures would be available to the public, barring any trade secrets linked to the data. The EPA will finalize the rule in the coming months, agency spokesperson Catherine Milbourn said, then require companies to report back within 12 months."

This content provided by the PFAS Project.

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