2024 PFAS Regulatory Updates

PFAS are everywhere, but what the heck are they and what do you need to do?  Read on to find out.

What Are PFAS?

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of nearly 4,000 manmade chemicals including PFOA, PFOS, and GenX, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  The EPA explains that these chemicals were introduced in the United States in the 1940s and have been used in a wide variety of industries. These chemicals are sometimes known as “forever chemicals” because they don’t break down naturally, meaning they can accumulate over time. This can lead to adverse human health effects.

Where Are PFAS Found?

PFAS can be present in our water, soil, air, and food as well as in materials found in our homes or workplaces according to the EPA, including:

• Drinking water – in public drinking water systems and private drinking water wells.
• Soil and water at or near waste sites – at landfills, disposal sites, and hazardous waste sites such as those that fall under the federal Superfund and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act programs.
• Fire extinguishing foam – in aqueous film-forming foams (or AFFFs) used to extinguish flammable liquid-based fires.  Such foams are used in training and emergency response events at airports, shipyards, military bases, firefighting training facilities, chemical plants, and refineries.
• Manufacturing or chemical production facilities that produce or use PFAS – for example at chrome plating, electronics, and certain textile and paper manufacturers.
• Food – in fish caught from water contaminated by PFAS and dairy products from livestock exposed to PFAS.
• Food packaging –in grease-resistant paper, fast food containers/wrappers, microwave popcorn bags, pizza boxes, and candy wrappers.
• Household products and dust –in stain and water-repellent used on carpets, upholstery, clothing, and other fabrics; cleaning products; non-stick cookware; paints, varnishes, and sealants.
• Personal care products –in certain shampoo, dental floss, and cosmetics.
• Biosolids –fertilizer from wastewater treatment plants that is used on agricultural lands can affect ground and surface water and animals that graze on the land.

Why Does PFAS Contamination Matter?

The EPA cites peer-reviewed studies showing the effects exposure to PFAS leads to:

• Reproductive effects
• Developmental effects on children
• Increased risk of cancer
• Reduced immune response
• Interference with hormonal regulation
• Increased cholesterol
• Increased risk of obesity.

Research is ongoing at the EPA, other federal agencies, academia, and industry to understand the health effects of thousands of forever chemicals. These chemicals have varying effects and toxicity levels, and exposure can occur in different ways and at different stages of life. Additionally, these chemicals change over time, making it challenging to track and assess exposure.

How Can Organizations Reduce PFAS Contamination?

If your industry has relied on PFAS in the past, now is the time to address the situation. In 2020, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution (H.R. 535) to regulate PFAS in certain industries.

More recently, the EPA issued:

• Final CERCLA Hazardous Substances Designations for PFOA and PFOS.
• A Superfund set up to improve transparency and accountability to clean up PFAS in communities.
• A limiting PFAS in public drinking water mandate. This is the first legally enforceable drinking water standard.
• Updated guidance on the destruction and disposal of PFAS.
• Proposed resource conservation related to PFAS, and
• Methods for measuring PFAS in the environment.

Now is the time to lean on Environmental Works, Inc. as your best resource for long-term support as the landscape of regulations continue to change.

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Do you have further questions about PFAS contamination or regulation? We’re here to walk you through the specifics and help you develop a comprehensive plan for PFAS regulatory compliance. Request a quote here.