For PFAS, hazardous designation is not a ban
15 Oct 2019 | EWG News
Designating PFAS as “hazardous substances” is critical to cleaning up legacy contamination [and is different than a ban]. There are currently 761 substances on the CERCLA hazardous substances list. Almost 700 of them have been on the list since the law was passed in 1980. An EWG analysis found that at least 599, or 79 percent of these chemicals are likely still in active use in commerce today. What’s more, 339 of the CERCLA hazardous substances chemicals, or 44 percent, are not only in production, but likely produced at high volumes.
Governor DeWine issues order to analyze PFAS in Ohio’s drinking water
15 Oct 2019 | JD Supra
Ohio EPA and ODH have been directed to develop an “action plan” by December 1, 2019, with the focus of testing public and private water systems. The governor’s order specifically notes that water supplies “near known sources of PFAS, such as firefighting training sites and manufacturing facilities” are to be analyzed.
[LISTEN] How dangerous are PFAS chemicals and what’s being done to clean them up?
14 Oct 2019 | Alaska Public Media
How dangerous are PFAS to human health and what’s being done to clean them up?
America’s dairyland may have a PFAS problem
11 Oct 2019 | NRDC
The toxic chemicals have been showing up in milk around the country. Anna Reade, an NRDC staff scientist specializing in toxic chemicals, suggests that state agencies test sludge before it’s spread on fields and milk before it goes to market. Then officials could see where the highest PFAS concentrations are coming from.
‘Forever chemicals’ are in your popcorn—and your blood
10 Oct 2019 | Wired
According to a recently published peer-reviewed study, the more often people eat at home, the lower their level of PFAS chemicals. Also, people who reported eating microwave popcorn had significantly higher levels of four types of PFAS. Additionally, the study linked PFAS levels in blood to a diet high in shellfish, which can accumulate those chemicals from contaminated water.
To reduce PFAS levels in food, cook at home
9 Oct 2019 | Consumer Reports
A new study finds eating out and getting takeout may expose you to more toxic PFAS chemicals than eating meals prepared at home.
Toxic PFAS chemicals found in artificial turf
8 Oct 2019 | The Intercept
PFAS chemicals have been identified in synthetic turf, according to lab tests performed on several samples of the artificial grass that were shared with The Intercept. The presence of the chemicals, members of a class that has been associated with multiple health problems, including cancer, adds to growing concerns about the grass replacement that covers many thousands of acres in parks, schools, professional sports stadiums, and practice fields around the U.S.
Firefighting foam leaves toxic legacy in Californians’ drinking water
8 Oct 2019 | Los Angeles Times
California regulators say there is little they can do to speed up the military’s testing or cleanup efforts around its contaminated bases. Because the EPA has delayed setting a standard for cleaning up groundwater contamination, the military has avoided large-scale remediation costs.
Michigan House of Reps passes AFFF bills
5 Oct 2019 | Alpena News
A package of three bills that would keep better tabs on the amount of hazardous firefighting foam used in the state was passed in the state House and is headed to the Senate.
Judge asks for crash course in the science of PFAS chemicals
4 Oct 2019 | Bloomberg Environment
A judge in South Carolina before embarking on a major “forever chemicals” case is asking to arrange a crash course.These types of ‘Science Days’ becoming more frequent in complex liability suits.
[Press release] UN experts recommend elimination of additional hazardous chemicals to protect human health and the environment
4 Oct 2019 | Stockholm Convention Press Release
More than 100 scientific experts, from all over the world, attended the 15th meeting of the Stockholm Convention’s Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee (POPRC-15), in Rome under the auspices of the United Nations, and recommended that a group of hazardous chemicals (PFHxS and related compounds) be eliminated in order to better protect human health and the environment from its harmful impacts.
Testing for PFAS on Cape Cod: STEEP Team visits Barnstable, Yarmouth
4 Oct 2019
46 percent of 101 private wells tested in 12 Cape towns contained at least one PFAS chemical. Two or more PFAS chemicals were detected in 28 percent of the wells. Three percent had PFAS levels exceeding a new, stricter groundwater standard of 20 ppt for six emerging chemical. Presentations from STEEP Science Day are available online at web.uri.edu/steep/news-events/science-day-2/
Federal judge’s ruling allows class action suit against PFAS makers to proceed
3 Oct 2019 | EWG Press Release
This class action includes every U.S. resident with detectable levels of PFAS chemicals in their blood and who have claimed they have been injured as a result of being exposed.
3M suit aims to block tougher PFAS standards for water in NH
1 Oct 2019 | GateHouse Media
Chemical company 3M – along with the Plymouth Water & Sewer District, a Center Harbor farmer and a second company – filed a lawsuit against the state Department of Environmental Services seeking to block the implementation of new standards for a series of PFAS chemicals.
Landmark class action over PFAS contamination in Australia announced by Erin Brockovich
29 Sep 2019 | ABC News
It's the largest class action Australia has ever seen — four times larger than the Black Saturday class action of 2009 — and involves people across the country.