US lawmakers urge action on ‘forever chemicals’ used in electric vehicles and beyond

By Jana Cholakovska | The Examination | August 28, 2024

Read the full article by Jana Cholakovska (The Examination)

"A pair of U.S. lawmakers are calling for regulators to crack down on a family of chemicals that are used in a host of products, including the lithium-ion batteries that power electric vehicles.

The calls for action from two Democrats who’ve long pushed for tougher chemical regulation follow an investigation by The Examination, Columbia Journalism Investigations, the Post and Courier and Belgian public broadcaster RTBF. The reporting found that top chemical suppliers for EV batteries have been accused of misleading regulators, hiding information and contaminating communities while previously making similar, related products.

Sen. Jeff Merkley and Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. said that protecting communities from forever chemicals — or PFAS — is their top priority and urged regulators to use the full extent of their power to curtail widespread contamination and hold polluters accountable."