EPA designates 2 forever chemicals as hazardous substances, eligible for Superfund cleanup
A group that represents the chemical industry says it strongly opposes the Environmental Protection Agency's designation of two forever chemicals used in cookware, carpets and firefighting foams as hazardous substances.
Fast-food wrappers that contain PFAS are no longer sold in the US, the FDA says
Fast-food wrappers and packaging that contain so-called forever chemicals are no longer being sold in the U.S. The Food and Drug Administration says the voluntary effort that began in 2020 between the agency and U.S. food manufacturers has been completed.
Belgium-based Solvay to pay $393M to clean up and compensate for PFAS contamination in New Jersey
A Belgium-based chemical company will spend nearly $393 million under a settlement to clean up contamination from its so-called forever chemicals in New Jerseyโs drinking water and soil and to compensate for the environmental damage they caused.
EPA proposes 1st national rule to test for PFAS in public water systems
Consumer Reports sounded the alarm years ago on PFAS -- also known as โforever chemicalsโ because they essentially never break down naturally, are often added to products to make them waterproof, stain resistant, or nonstick.
Sanders says he'll enact national drinking water standards
CONCORD, NH โ Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders said Tuesday that he would enact federal drinking water standards for a group of toxic chemicals that have caused widespread contamination in New Hampshire and other states. Sanders, a Vermont senator, said instead of spending millions on lawsuits to gut clean water rules, such companies should be paying to clean up contamination. He said as president, he will create national clean water standards for PFAS and other chemicals in an effort to guarantee clean drinking water โas a human right.โโCorporate greed is threatening one of the most basic necessities of life: clean water,โ he said in a statement. โNot only will we support state efforts to enforce stronger clean water laws, we are going to create federal clean water standards that force these companies to clean up their mess.โMore than 700 homes in New Hampshire whose drinking water was contaminated by PFAS have been connected to new water, and the state estimates that more than 100,000 other people eventually could be affected. 3M Co., based in St. Paul, Minnesota, said in a statement Tuesday that it โsupports appropriate science-based regulations of PFASโ and therefore backs โconsideration of an enforceable, science-based national drinking water standard" for the toxic chemicals.
Drinking water in California contaminated with toxic PFAS, report says
iStock/Elenathewise(CNN) - Chemical contaminants were detected in water sources serving more than 7 million Californians, according to a new report by the Environmental Working Group. The nonprofit, which describes itself as "dedicated to protecting human health and the environment," found that water sources for 74 community water systems -- serving 7.5 million people in California -- have been contaminated with PFAS chemicals. The EPA issues drinking water advisories when PFAS levels are at or above 70 parts per trillion. Earlier this month, Denmark became the first country to ban PFAS chemicals. Gavin Newsom signed a law, to go into effect in 2020, allowing the state board to order public water systems to monitor for PFAS chemicals, and requiring community water systems to report detections.