PFAS


AP Photo/Matt Rourke

EPA Might Finally Regulate PFAS But the Process Matters

, Lead science and policy analyst

February 24, 2020 9:20 AM EDT

The EPA announced last week that it is issuing a preliminary regulatory determination for public comment to set an enforceable drinking water standard to two of the most common and well-studied PFAS, PFOA and PFOS. This decision is based on three criteria: 1) PFOA and PFOS have an adverse effect on public health 2) PFOA and PFOS occur in drinking water often enough and at levels of public health concern; 3) regulation of PFOA and PFOS is a meaningful opportunity for reducing the health risk to those served by public water systems.

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AP Photo/Matt Rourke
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Raw Sewage and Forever Chemicals: The Trump Administration’s Growing Waterworld Debacle

, fellow

February 3, 2020 10:40 AM EDT

The EPA is relaxing requirements for cities to build proper sewage infrastructure and more sites are being reported with high levels of toxic PFAS chemicals. The evidence is spewing in about how foul our water will be under the Trump administration’s new water rules. Read more >

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US Air Force

Congress Misses the Mark on PFAS in the NDAA

, Lead science and policy analyst

December 10, 2019 11:57 AM EDT

This year’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) has turned out to be a missed opportunity for a full-on government effort to do its job of protecting us. While we had high hopes for a strong compromise based on draft language adopted this summer, Congress has allowed political whims to get in the way of concrete action to improve people’s lives.While there was some initial progress made on phasing out some PFAS uses and requiring government testing and monitoring, we should also be sounding a rallying cry to continue working for the government action needed to help communities across the country and to make polluters pay for their harmful mess.

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Mary Cybulski/Focus Features

DuPont’s Worst Nightmare: “Dark Waters” Speaks the Truth About PFAS Science

, Lead science and policy analyst

November 19, 2019 9:16 AM EDT

The image accompanying the 2016 New York Times piece, “The Lawyer Who Became DuPont’s Worst Nightmare” has stuck with me since I first read it. The contrast of a man in a dark suit with darkened eyes and a grave face standing on a West Virginia farm on a wintry day is chilling. Rob Bilott’s expression in that photo captures so much of the PFAS story. It’s the face of a man tired of knowing the truth and not seeing the proportional response to that knowledge from those with the power and responsibility to protect people.

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Mary Cybulski/Focus Features
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ennifer Sharp/iStock

PFAS Contamination Is an Equity Issue, and President Trump’s EPA Is Failing to Fix It

, Lead science and policy analyst

October 30, 2019 8:49 AM EDT

We have a big national PFAS contamination problem. PFAS—per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances— are a class of man-made chemicals that are used in a variety of products to repel water and grease, including firefighting foam, nonstick cookware, and food packaging. These chemicals have been linked to health effects including various forms of cancer, thyroid disease, ulcerative colitis, pregnancy-induced hypertension and preeclampsia, and increased cholesterol levels. While we’re all exposed to some degree, who’s most at risk of being harmed? Read more >

ennifer Sharp/iStock
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