Read the full story from Fast Company.
Hundreds of products are made with PFAS, including apparel. Here’s how clothing companies are phasing out those toxic chemicals now.
Category: Emerging contaminants
Most consumers unaware of health risks posed by “forever chemicals” in food packaging, researchers warn
Read the full story at Packaging Insights.
The majority (80%) of consumers are not familiar with “forever chemicals” and the term PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), according to a survey by Sapio Research, conducted on behalf of Celebration Packaging.
However, when asked about the potential dangers of PFAS after being shown the definition, 96% of participants indicated that they are now concerned about its potential dangers.
Chemicals, forever: how do you fix a problem like PFAS?
by Sarah Wilson, University of Technology Sydney and Rachael Wakefield-Rann, University of Technology Sydney
A landmark legal settlement has once again focused our attention on the dangers of “forever chemicals”.
This class of chemicals, technically known as per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, are widely used to make nonstick or waterproof products. The problem is, the chemicals move easily around the environment, pollute groundwater and rivers, are often carcinogenic – and they don’t degrade.
This month, one of the largest makers of these chemicals, 3M, had its offer of A$16 billion to clean up PFAS-contaminated waterways approved by a US court. It’s just the latest in a series of PFAS lawsuits across the United States.
While increased attention is welcome, there’s no guarantee of success. Removing and destroying PFAS from wastewater streams across a single US state, Minnesota, would cost a minimum of $21 billion over 20 years. Globally, a recent report by the chemical safety nonprofit ChemSec found the costs of PFAS remediation alone amount to around $26 trillion per year – not including rising healthcare costs from exposure to PFAS, or damage to the environment. The 3M settlement is just the tip of the iceberg.
The problem now is how to actually clean up these chemicals – and prevent further pollution.
Remediation is expensive – and uncertain
In Australia, contamination is worst in firefighter training grounds and on defence force bases, due to the long-term use of firefighting foams full of PFAS. The discovery of this contamination triggered a wave of lawsuits. The Department of Defence has since paid out more than $366 million in class action lawsuits.
Defence has also assumed responsibility for managing, remediating and monitoring PFAS contamination on and around its bases. In 2021, the department began to actively set about remediation.
That sounds promising – find the pollution and fix the problem. But the reality is much more complicated.
A 2022 parliamentary inquiry described PFAS remediation as an emerging and experimental industry.
This is correct. There’s a great deal of basic scientific research we have to do. This is not a simple problem. These chemicals seep into the soil and groundwater – and stay there. It’s hard to get them out.
As a result, most remediation work at defence bases to date has been part of research and development, rather than a wide-scale permanent cleanup.
To help, the defence department has brought in three major industry partners, including Emerging Compounds Treatment Technologies. We don’t know how they are doing the cleanup or if their methods work, as this information is not publicly accessible. The three companies have sought intellectual property protection to support their technological advantage in the growing PFAS remediation market.
One of the companies, Venetia, told the parliamentary inquiry:
[there] are still significant gaps in knowledge in keys areas such as human health toxicology, PFAS behaviour in the environment and remediation of PFAS in soil and water
PFAS is a much bigger problem
Significant PFAS contamination has now been reported in:
- Melbourne’s West Gate Tunnel construction site. Soil contamination at the most polluted site is hundreds of times worse than a threshold set by the state’s environmental protection agency
- Western Australian mines
- WA waste management facilities
- Southeast Queensland water reclamation plants
- Perth’s public and private airports
- Operating and closed landfills.
The full extent of PFAS contamination in Australia is still emerging. Recent research has found Australia is one of several toxic hotspots for PFAS, relative to the rest of the world.
Worse, current monitoring practices are likely to be underestimating how much PFAS is lingering in the environment, given we usually only track a handful of these chemicals – out of more than 16,000.
Experts have called for:
improved understanding of the range of PFAS embodied in consumer and industrial products […] to assess the environmental burden and develop mitigation measures
The more we look, the more alarming the picture appears. Emerging research has found PFAS in consumer products such as cosmetics, packaging, waterproofing, inks, pesticides, medical articles, polishes and paints, metal plating, pipes and cables, mechanical components, electronics, solar cells, textiles and carpets.
The size and complexity of PFAS contamination suggests we are in for a very long and expensive process to begin cleaning it up – especially given we are still making and using these chemicals.
How should we respond?
To start addressing the problem, here are three important steps.
1. Introduce a “polluter pays” principle.
The introduction of this concept is what forced 3M to pay up in the US. Australia has yet to follow suit, which is why the public has been footing the bill. If we introduce this legal principle, manufacturers will have to take responsibility. This would make it much less attractive for companies to make polluting products – and shift the burden from taxpayers to the companies responsible. Australia’s government is considering pursuing similar legal action against 3M.
2. Set PFAS contamination standards in line with other OECD countries, or better.
Earlier this month, the US implemented the first legally enforceable national drinking water standards for five PFAS compounds and two PFAS mixtures. Australia’s current acceptable drinking water guidelines allow up to 140 times more PFAS in our water than these strict new US standards. In the US, these new standards are drawing new investment in remediation.
3. Take it seriously.
For years, many of us thought all you had to do to avoid PFAS was not to buy nonstick pans. But these chemicals are now everywhere. They’re highly persistent and don’t leave our bodies easily. Every single person on the planet is now likely to have detectable levels of PFAS in their blood. Reducing this dangerous chemical load is going to take a lot of work to clean up existing hotspots, stop further production, and prevent recirculation of PFAS in recycled products or in our food.
The 3M settlement is a good start. But it’s only a start. Tackling this problem is going to be hard, but necessary.
Sarah Wilson, PhD Candidate in Quantum Technology & Innovation Governance, Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney and Rachael Wakefield-Rann, Senior Research Consultant, Institute for Sustainable Futures, University of Technology Sydney
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
PFAS is piling up in our trash. Can we keep it contained?
Read the full story from WXPR.
PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are thousands of chemicals used to make frying pans nonstick, clothes and carpets stain resistant, and even to snuff out dangerous fires. The chemicals’ almost unbreakable carbon-fluorine bonds make them useful, but also ensure they don’t break down. They have been found in the environment across the globe, including in the bodies of people and animals.
Growing research also shows that these chemicals are toxic, linked to some cancers and reproductive, developmental and immune system issues.
In the past few years, regulation of these chemicals is finally starting to catch up – the EPA set new limits for six PFAS in drinking water last year, and private startups are racing to find a way to destroy them. But decades’ worth of the compounds are sitting in landfills right now – presenting a new contaminant for waste handlers who didn’t create the pollution, but now find themselves awash in it.
Researchers are still trying to understand whether the chemicals are also escaping into the air, whether through gasses from landfills, aeration in wastewater treatment and the emissions from incinerators, said Detlef Knappe, a professor of environmental engineering at North Carolina State University.
A few waste companies are trying to get ahead of the curve now. Ryan O’Gara, government affairs manager at SKB, said the company is expecting a future where new regulations would force the waste industry to reckon with the PFAS that are flowing through it.
US EPA designates 2 types of PFAS as hazardous substances
Read the full story at Smart Cities Dive.
The U.S. EPA has designated two types of PFAS as hazardous substances, a long-awaited move meant to hold polluters accountable for related pollution. The agency does not intend to pursue municipal landfills or water utilities in its enforcement strategy, it said in a news release and separate policy statement Friday.
The EPA says perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) are “widely used” PFAS that have been linked to cancer, immune and developmental issues and other health impacts. The EPA is targeting such chemicals under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, known as CERCLA or Superfund.
PFAS in Soil and Groundwater: Comprehensive Challenges and Progress in Regulation and Management in Germany
Biegel-Engler, A., Frauenstein, J. (2024). PFAS in Soil and Groundwater: Comprehensive Challenges and Progress in Regulation and Management in Germany. In: Ginzky, H., et al. International Yearbook of Soil Law and Policy 2022, vol 2022. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-40609-6_12 [open access]
Abstract
Per and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) are substances of very high concern. Because of their persistence and their ubiquitous presence in the environment they are called forever chemicals. Some substances of the large group of PFAS are bioaccumulating and toxic, other substances are very mobile in soil and reach groundwater easily. Humans take up PFAS mainly via food including drinking water, which is often produced from groundwater. Thresholds for PFAS in drinking water are so low that environmental concentrations are often already above those levels. Thus, strategies to deal with PFAS in soil and groundwater are urgently needed. The number of (suspected) sites contaminated with PFAS is rising. The reason is that the awareness about PFAS is increasing and thus more areas are being investigated. However, clean-up and remediation of contaminated sites is costly and difficult, if possible at all. Until the implementation of legally binding values for PFAS in soil and groundwater and their verified derivation. a German guideline for PFAS assessment currently provides available media-related assessment bases and criteria. This paper covers the current state of knowledge on PFAS and suggests solutions for dealing with PFAS contaminated soils and groundwater.
Recent progress in per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) sensing: A critical mini-review
Thompson, D., Zolfigol, N., Xia, Z., & Lei, Y. (2024). Recent progress in per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) sensing: A critical mini-review. Sensors and Actuators Reports, 7, 100189. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.snr.2024.100189
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of fluorinated pollutants found widely in numerous industrial and consumer products. Their excellent heat, oil, and water resistance and slow degradation rate in nature lead to their persistent environmental accumulation with potential adverse impacts on various organisms, including humans. Although the current EPA-approved PFAS detection method is elegant and ultrasensitive, its broader application is greatly limited due to the associated high costs, lengthy detection times, and skilled personnel requirements. Hence, there is a strong demand for rapid, robust, low-cost, and accessible PFAS detection methods to expedite the treatment of contaminated media and control exposure to these emerging substances. Since the publication of our first PFAS sensing review in 2021, numerous new PFAS sensors have been developed and reported. Consequently, this critical review primarily focuses on recent advancements in PFAS sensing platforms, encompassing optical-based, electrochemical-based, and other novel sensing principle-based systems, as well as those that complement liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry, the gold standard for PFAS detection. The underlying detection mechanisms, sensing performances, and potential areas for improvement are thoroughly discussed. We hope that this article offers readers a review of alternative PFAS detection systems developed in recent years and inspires future innovations in field-deployable PFAS sensing technology.
Cost effective and efficient technique for removing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in water
Mai, S. (2024). Cost effective and efficient technique for removing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in water. Natural Sciences Education, 53, e20137. https://doi.org/10.1002/nse2.20137
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are synthetic chemicals, which can leak into the surrounding environment, such as water and soil, from water-resistant manufactured products where they remain highly persistent due to their strong chemical bonds. PFAS have been found in human blood and can cause thyroid disease, increased cholesterol levels, liver damage, kidney cancer, and testicular cancer in humans. The goal of this study is to test the effectiveness of sorption and degradation removal methods on PFAS. The sorption method involves the use of biochar. Biochar can hold the PFAS in a concentrated area through electrostatic and hydrophobic properties. The degradation method involves using powerful ultraviolet (UV) light, in which free radicals will be produced and help break down PFAS molecules into simpler ones such as carbon and fluorine. The sorption experiment tested various modified corn biochar and the effect on perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS). It was found that biochar did have a positive removal effect on PFBS, and the biochar with the most modifications had the highest removal rate. The degradation experiment tested the effect of UV light and other modifications on PFBS. It was found that UV light did have a positive removal effect on PFBS, and the UV light combined with other modifications had a higher removal effect.
EPA sets first national limits on PFAS in drinking water
Read the full story from WBUR.
Every municipal water system in the country must test for, and limit, the presence of five PFAS chemicals within five years, according to new guidelines set by the federal government. It’s the first time these toxic chemicals have been regulated at the national level.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations limit the two most common PFAS chemicals — PFOA and PFOS — to four parts per trillion in drinking water, close to the lowest level at which the chemicals can be detected. The EPA also set a non-enforceable goal for these two compounds at zero, reflecting that “there is no level of exposure to these contaminants without risk of health impacts,” according to a press release.
Adsorbent Material Used for the Treatment of Per- and Poly-Fluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS): A Short Review
Gomri, C., Benkhaled, B. T., Cretin, M., & Semsarilar, M. (2024). Adsorbent Material Used for the Treatment of Per- and Poly-Fluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS): A Short Review. Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics, 2400012. https://doi.org/10.1002/macp.202400012 [open access]
Abstract
PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, have received considerable attention due to their persistence in the environment and potential health risks. To address this problem, adsorption has emerged as an effective method for removing PFAS compounds from water. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of various adsorbents used for PFAS removal, including activated carbon, ion exchange resins, clay, and emerging materials such as covalent and metal-organic framework adsorbents. The effectiveness of these adsorbents in removing PFAS compounds is discussed, along with the factors influencing their adsorption, such as pH, competitive matters, and temperature.
Stabilization of PFAS-contaminated soil with sewage sludge- and wood-based biochar sorbents
Sørmo, E., Lade, C. B. M., Zhang, J., Asimakopoulos, A. G., Åsli, G. W., Hubert, M., Goranov, A. I., Arp, H. P. H., & Cornelissen, G. (2024). Stabilization of PFAS-contaminated soil with sewage sludge- and wood-based biochar sorbents. Science of The Total Environment, 922, 170971. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170971
Abstract
Sustainable and effective remediation technologies for the treatment of soil contaminated with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are greatly needed. This study investigated the effects of waste-based biochars on the leaching of PFAS from a sandy soil with a low total organic carbon content (TOC) of 0.57 ± 0.04 % impacted by PFAS from aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) dispersed at a former fire-fighting facility. Six different biochars (pyrolyzed at 700–900 °C) were tested, made from clean wood chips (CWC), waste timber (WT), activated waste timber (aWT), two digested sewage sludges (DSS-1 and DSS-2) and de-watered raw sewage sludge (DWSS). Up-flow column percolation tests (15 days and 16 pore volume replacements) with 1 % biochar indicated that the dominant congener in the soil, perfluorooctane sulphonic acid (PFOS) was retained best by the aWT biochar with a 99.9 % reduction in the leachate concentration, followed by sludge-based DWSS (98.9 %) and DSS-2 and DSS-1 (97.8 % and 91.6 %, respectively). The non-activated wood-based biochars (CWC and WT) on the other hand, reduced leaching by <42.4 %. Extrapolating this to field conditions, 90 % leaching of PFOS would occur after 15 y for unamended soil, and after 1200 y and 12,000 y, respectively, for soil amended with 1 % DWSS-amended and aWT biochar. The high effectiveness of aWT and the three sludge-based biochars in reducing PFAS leaching from the soil was attributed largely to high porosity in a pore size range (>1.5 nm) that can accommodate the large PFAS molecules (>1.02–2.20 nm) combined with a high affinity to the biochar matrix. Other factors like anionic exchange capacity could play a contributing role. Sorbent effectiveness was better for long-chain than for short-chain PFAS, due to weaker, apolar interactions between the biochar and the latter’s shorter hydrophobic CF2-tails. The findings were the first to demonstrate that locally sourced activated wood-waste biochars and non-activated sewage sludge biochars could be suitable sorbents for the ex situ stabilization and in situ remediation of PFAS-contaminated soil, bringing this technology one step closer to full-scale field testing.
Risk-based prioritization of PFAS using phenotypic and transcriptomic data from human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived hepatocytes and cardiomyocytes
Tsai, H.-H. D., Ford, L. C., Chen, Z., Dickey, A. N., Wright, F. A., & Rusyn, I. (2024). Risk-based prioritization of PFAS using phenotypic and transcriptomic data from human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived hepatocytes and cardiomyocytes. ALTEX – Alternatives to Animal Experimentation. https://doi.org/10.14573/altex.2311031
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are chemicals with important applications; they are persistent in the environment and may pose human health hazards. Regulatory agencies are considering restrictions and bans of PFAS; however, little data exists for informed decisions. Several prioritization strategies were proposed for evaluation of potential hazards of PFAS. Structure-based grouping could expedite the selection of PFAS for testing; still, the hypothesis that structure-effect relationships exist for PFAS requires confirmation. We tested 26 structurally diverse PFAS from 8 groups using human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived hepatocytes and cardiomyocytes, and tested concentration-response effects on cell function and gene expression. Few phenotypic effects were observed in hepatocytes, but negative chronotropy was observed for 8 of the 26 PFAS. Substance- and cell type-dependent transcriptomic changes were more prominent but lacked substantial group-specific effects. In hepatocytes, we found up-regulation of stress-related and extracellular matrix organization pathways, and down-regulation of fat metabolism. In cardiomyocytes, contractility-related pathways were most affected. We derived phenotypic and transcriptomic points of departure and compared them to predicted PFAS exposures. The conservative estimates for bioactivity and exposure were used to derive bioactivity-to-exposure ratio (BER) for each PFAS, most (23 of 26) PFAS had BER&gt;1. Overall, these data suggests that structure-based grouping of PFAS may not be sufficient to predict their biological effects. Testing of individual PFAS may be needed for scientific-based decision-making. Our proposed strategy of using two human cell types and considering phenotypic and transcriptomic effects, combined with dose-response analysis and calculation of BER, may be used for PFAS prioritization.
Plain language summary
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are man-made chemicals used in many products. However, most of these substances have not been tested for safety, and concerns exist that they may be harmful to human health and/or the environment. This study aimed to use human cell-based models to investigate if some of the PFAS may exhibit hazardous properties and if similarities among substances are observed. Few effects were observed in liver cells, but a decrease in beating frequency was observed in heart cells for some PFAS. Gene expression changes were substance- and cell type-dependent. We did not find convincing structure-based similarities among PFAS; this suggests that testing of individual PFAS may be necessary in the future to inform health decisions. Overall, this study showed that a test strategy of using two human cell types, from liver and heart, may inform PFAS prioritization without a need for testing in animals.</p>
PFAS, Planes, and Problems: PFAS Regulation in the Aerospace and Aviation Industries
Green, E. G. (2024). PFAS, Planes, and Problems: PFAS Regulation in the Aerospace and Aviation Industries. Oklahoma Law Review, 76(2), 441. https://digitalcommons.law.ou.edu/olr/vol76/iss2/6
Abstract
This Comment will explore the development of the double bind many FAA-certified airports find themselves in as a result of the tension between the federal and state governments, PFAS chemical
manufacturers, and entities that employ the use of firefighting foam in the aviation and aerospace industries—the FAA, DoD, and National Aeronautics and Space Agency (“NASA”).Part II will trace the historical evolution of PFAS chemicals, their introduction into society, and federal legislative responses to PFAS-chemical contamination. Part III outlines how PFAS chemicals were
introduced into the aviation and aerospace industries as well as legislative and judicial actions that relate to these industry contexts. Part III considers current lobbyist concerns and the respective responses of the FAA, DoD, and NASA regarding PFAS contamination stemming from their actions. Part IV will determine the responsibilities of the FAA and DoD by considering common law theories that have developed in response to data, litigation, legislative recommendations, and international
aviation standards. Finally, Part V will introduce reasons to reject previous justifications approving the use of PFAS chemicals. This Comment concludes by recommending actions the FAA and Congress can take as challenges associated with PFAS contamination continue to loom over the United
States.This Comment is written with a focus toward protecting airports from FAA-imposed liability and safeguarding imperiled water and ecosystems. This Comment, adopting a similar approach to international aviation standards, argues that the FAA and the DoD should ban AFFF that contains PFAS and authorize an effective alternative to be used at all United States airports and spaceports.
PFAS-free superhydrophobic chitosan coating for fabrics
Tagliaro, I., Mariani, M., Akbari, R., Contardi, M., Summa, M., Saliu, F., Nisticò, R., & Antonini, C. (2024). PFAS-free superhydrophobic chitosan coating for fabrics. Carbohydrate Polymers, 333, 121981. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2024.121981
Abstract
In view of health and environmental concerns, together with the upcoming restrictive regulations on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), less impactful materials must be explored for the hydrophobization of surfaces. Polysaccharides, and especially chitosan, are being explored for their desirable properties of film formation and ease of modification. We present a PFAS-free chitosan superhydrophobic coating for textiles deposited through a solvent-free method. By contact angle analysis and drop impact, we observe that the coating imparts hydrophobicity to the fabrics, reaching superhydrophobicty (θA = 151°, θR = 136°) with increased amount of coating (from 1.6 g/cm2). This effect is obtained by the combination of chemical water repellency of the modified chitosan and the nano- and micro-roughness, assessed by SEM analysis. We perform a comprehensive study on the durability of the coatings, showing good results especially for acidic soaking where the hydrophobicity is maintained until the 8th cycle of washing. We assess the degradation of the coating by a TGA-IR investigation to define the compounds released with thermal degradation, and we confirm the coating’s biodegradability by biochemical oxygen consumption. Finally, we demonstrate its biocompatibility on keratinocytes (HaCaT cell line) and fibroblasts (HFF-1 cell line), confirming that the coating is safe for human skin cells.
UW-Madison to open PFAS center with federal funds
Read the full story from Wisconsin Public Media.
A new center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison will focus on studying PFAS and finding solutions to environmental contamination by the chemicals.
The new center will be launched with federal funding announced last week. Scientists said they hope to be able to identify PFAS they currently can’t measure, and find ways to reverse or stop environmental damage caused by the substances sometimes called “forever chemicals.”
U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan announced the $963,000 appropriation during an event at the university last week. The money was included in the most recent budget passed by Congress.
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