PFAS in the News

• STEEP Collaborates with RI Dept. of Environmental Management - The State of Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM) Statewide PFAS Source Investigation Report, recently drafted, features a collaboration with former STEEP trainee, Matt Dunn (University of Rhode Island), around statewide PFAS source investigation, and how the data is being used to influence policy. RI DEM worked… ...Read more

• STEEP researcher contributes to study confirming link between PFAS — ‘forever chemicals’ — in drinking water and weight gain - Study by team which includes STEEP’s Dr. Philippe Grandjean provides new evidence that being overweight not just about a lack of physical activity and unhealthy eating habits. PFAS content in blood promotes weight gain and makes it harder to keep a lower body weight after weight loss ...Read more

• Consumer Reports investigation finds PFAS in food packaging of popular chains - After testing 118 food packaging products from fast-food and supermarket chains, Consumer Reports found PFAS in more than half of the products. Now, several of these retailers are announcing plans to phase out use of the… ...Read more

• Sea spray is belching toxic chemicals back on land - New research has found evidence that sea spray from crashing waves can propel PFAS from ocean water into the atmosphere. Once in the air, the PFAS can cover great distances to contaminate waters far inland from the coast –… ...Read more

• Rhode Island making progress on next ‘Green Report Card’ but work remains - At the biannual Environmental Council of Rhode Island, the Assembly has made significant strides with environmental regulations, notably passing the Act on Climate, however it has again failed… ...Read more

• Toxic ‘forever chemicals’ are contaminating plastic food containers - New insights have been revealed on the ubiquity of PFAS use in plastic containers, and the likelihood that these forever chemicals are leaching into food, drinks, personal care products, pharmaceuticals, cleaning products,… ...Read more

• Improved medical screening in PFAS-impacted communities to identify early disease - Public health protection must go beyond the removal of PFAS exposure, to include medical surveillance to identify early signs of disease, start earlier treatment, and potentially save lives. ...Read more

• Toxic Chemicals Found in Many Cosmetics - A recent study analyzing 231 cosmetic products found high fluorine levels in well over half of the products, raising concerns from scientists at the potential health risks and lack of product labeling. ...Read more

• Rules on ‘Forever Chemicals’ in Drinking Water in Limbo - Though PFAS drinking water regulations have been at a stalemate in Rhode Island, state regulators continue to… ...Read more

• PFAS-free firefighting foams: Are they safer? - As countries and states are moving away from PFAS based fire-fighting foams, efforts are being made to study these replacement foams and ensure they are safe… ...Read more

• Celiac disease linked to common chemical pollutants - New research shows that elevated blood levels of PFAS are tied to an increased risk for celiac disease in young people. ...Read more

• How Michigan Reduced Industrial Discharges of PFAS - The state of Michigan leads the way in regulating the industrial discharge of PFAS by identifying specific industry sources and setting wastewater treatment plant… ...Read more

• Toxic PFAS Fallout Found Near Incinerator in Upstate New York - The first environmental study conducted near an AFFF incineration site found PFAS in water and soil samples… ...Read more

• COVID 4 Stimulus Bill Must Recognize: Water Is Life - The National Resources Defense Council urges law makers to address immediate and long-term water and public health needs in the next COVID-19 stimulus bill. ...Read more

• Thousands of Industrial Facilities Likely Discharging Toxic ‘Forever Chemicals’ Into Air and Water - The Environmental Working Group newly identified 2,500 industrial sites that may be discharging PFAS into the environment. ...Read more

• ATSDR releases final Pease PFAS report - The U.S. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry released its final health consultation report for the PFAS contamination of the Pease International Tradeport Public Water System in New Hampshire. ...Read more

• Air Contamination From ‘Forever’ Chemicals Sparks Concern - The Department of Defense’s plan to incinerate two million gallons of unused firefighting foam has been met with backlash from citizens and environmental groups, who are suing due to the potential release of PFAS… ...Read more

• Women firefighters face high exposure to toxic ‘forever chemicals’ - A study led by researchers at UC Berkeley, UC San Francisco, and the Silent Spring Institute finds that women firefighters are exposed to higher levels of PFAS than women working in downtown… ...Read more

• PFAS-REACH study recruits Hyannis preschoolers - The Silent Spring Institute recently launched PFAS-REACH, a study designed to evaluate the effects of PFAS exposure to preschool-aged children and create resources for affected communities to evaluate their exposure and reduce their risk. Read… ...Read more

• Toxic ‘forever chemicals’ more common in tap water than thought, report says - PFAS make another big splash in national headlines, with a study by the Environmental Working Group finding these ‘forever chemicals’ in 43 out of 44 tap water samples collected across 31 states. Read More ...Read more

• U.S. House passes legislation to address PFAS chemical contamination - After much deliberation, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the PFAS Action Act on January 10th, a bill that would establish federal regulations for these toxic, persistent chemicals and compel the cleanup of contaminated areas.… ...Read more
• ‘Forever Chemicals’ are Found in MWRA Fertilizer, Drawing Alarm - A Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) plant in Quincy, MA converts a large portion of the region's sewage into fertilizer pellets. However, recent tests of the fertilizer show that it contains over 18,000 ppt of… ...Read more
• How to say goodbye to PFAS - Industrial chemicals known as PFAS are increasingly found in the environment today and pose substantial threats to human and ecological health. To combat the public health crisis caused by these contaminants, a team of over… ...Read more
• New Data Show Severity of Water Contamination in Poor Neighborhoods - The Environmental Working Group’s Tap Water Database allows the public to enter their zip code and receive an analysis of drinking water in that locality. The database provides information related to water quality effects from… ...Read more
• Study: Newer PFAS Chemicals ‘May Pose More Risks’ Than Those They Replaced - A new study refutes claims that newer, short-chain PFAS chemicals are safer than the long-chain predecessors, PFOS and PFOA. Chemical companies have claimed that these new chemicals do not pose a risk to human health… ...Read more
• New Hyannis Building Will Better Treat Water For PFAS - A new $12 million water filtration building will be built for the Hyannis Water System. The facility will allow the system to meet stricter regulations for emerging contaminants like PFAS. Chairman of the Hyannis Water… ...Read more
• DOD Moving Forward with Task Force to Address PFAS - The Department of Defense (DOD) held its first PFAS Task Force meeting on August 9, 2019 to address how the chemicals have affected military facilities and their surrounding communities. Assistant Secretary of Defense for Sustainment… ...Read more
• Tainted bottled water is being sold at supermarkets throughout New England - Concern is raised over lack of a recall issued for bottled water brands contaminated with PFAS despite a health advisory released by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. After learning of high levels of PFAS… ...Read more
• Here’s an updated map of military sites where DoD found cancer-causing chemicals in the drinking water - Fifty-eight more military sites where PFAS has been found in groundwater and other drinking water resources have been added to an interactive map showing each of the locations in the United States. The map was… ...Read more
• The Devil They Knew – PFAS Contamination and the Need for Corporate Accountability - Date: Wednesday, July 24, 2019 - 2:00pm. Location: 2247 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515. The Devil They Knew – PFAS Contamination and the Need for Corporate Accountability Subcommittees: Environment (116th Congress). The hearing… ...Read more
• ‘Forever chemicals’ have been found in bottled water brands sold at Whole Foods and CVS, and it’s part of a larger contamination problem - The Massachusetts Department of Public Health has issued a warning about PFAS found in various brands of bottled water that are available to consumers at local Whole Foods and CVS stores in the state. The… ...Read more
• 3M admits to unlawful release of PFAS in Alabama - American multinational manufacturing company 3M acknowledges its role in releasing the perfluorinated chemical known as FBSA illegally into the Tennessee River. Manufactured in 3M’s Alabama facility since 2009, the company states it released this chemical… ...Read more
• 3M Study Found PFAS In Food Nearly 20 Years Ago - Although the FDA has recently conducted tests showing significant PFAS levels in common grocery store food items, 3M showed similar results in their own study conducted in 2001. Did the FDA know of this study… ...Read more
• FDA: Sampling Finds Toxic Nonstick Compounds in Some Food - The Food and Drug Administration has found high levels of PFAS in several grocery store products resulting from testing done by FDA researchers. Much of the meat and fish tested show at least double the… ...Read more
• Toxic Fluorinated Compounds Found in 12 RI Drinking Water Sites — 50,000+ Impacted - One major environmental research group is warning that 12 Rhode Island drinking water sites impacting more than 50,000 Rhode Islanders have detected contamination of toxic PFAS — toxic fluorinated compounds. The Rhode Island Department of… ...Read more
• RI Denies Environmental Groups Request for Revised Drinking-Water Safety Standards - Rhode Island won’t be regulating perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, a class of toxic chemicals commonly known as PFAS. But it will continue testing for them. Toxics Action Center (TAC) and the Conservation Law Foundation (CLF)… ...Read more
• The elephant in the room: potential biopersistence of short-chain PFAS - Concern over human and environmental health impacts of longer-chain PFAS (like PFOS and PFOA) has resulted in companies phasing out these compounds, but companies are simply replacing them with shorter-chain PFAS. The health impacts of… ...Read more
• Assessment of PFAS Exposure to Begin in Communities Near U.S. Military Bases - Eight communities near current or former U.S. military installations—including Barnes Air National Guard Base near Westfield, MA—will be part of assessments to examine human expose to PFAS. The assessments will be led by the Centers… ...Read more
• EPA announces an action plan to address PFAS - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has announced its action plan to address PFAS and protect human health.  Key actions in the plan will help provide, “the necessary tools to assist states, tribes, and communities in… ...Read more
• These Five Brands Of Dental Floss May Expose People To Harmful Chemicals, Study Finds - People may absorb toxic industrial chemicals from some brands of dental floss, a new study says. It’s the latest evidence that Americans are routinely exposed to this vast class of chemicals, known as PFAS, some… ...Read more
• Contaminated groundwater, a toxic legacy of Georgia’s air bases - For decades, the United States Air Force used a toxic firefighting foam that contaminated water near bases and exposed communities to chemicals linked to cancer and a variety of other health problems. Recent tests at… ...Read more
• Europe sets PFOA level at 20-fold below U.S. EPA guideline - The European Food Safety Administration (EFSA) released new limits for the most common types of PFAS—PFOS and PFOA—at much lower levels than we find in the United States. "These new EFSA limits illustrate that the… ...Read more
• Michigan governor wants to spend tens of millions of dollars on PFAS clean up - Governor Rick Snyder wants to put tens of millions of dollars toward curbing PFAS contamination. James Clift, policy director for the Michigan Environmental Council, says the new money won’t clean up every PFAS site in… ...Read more
• Minnesota Community Fighting PFAS in Drinking Water - In 2017, the state health department gave Cottage Grove, Minnesota’s mayor notice that a lower threshold had to be set for PFAS, a 3M-manufactured chemical that could be found in the community’s drinking water. The… ...Read more
• FAA Bill Would Open Door for Airports to Act on Toxic Foams - The House passed a Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill on Sept. 26, including an amendment that would exempt airports from military specifications that mandate the use of fluorine-based, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS in… ...Read more
• Erin Brockovich Arrives Amid Laverton PFAS Contamination Concerns - Environmental activist Erin Brokovich says PFAS are, “very toxic to the environment, to your food chain and to public health and safety.” The legal clerk visited Australia to support a class action against the Department… ...Read more
• Zürich Statement on Future Actions on Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) - The Zürich Statement on Future Actions on Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) represents the deliberations of 50 international scientists and regulators on PFAS as an issue of global concern. The statement is a clear indication… ...Read more
• STEEP director shares information on chemical detection tools - STEEP director Dr. Rainer Lohmann gave the keynote address at Emerging Contaminants in the Aquatic Environment Conference at University of Illinois, entitled "From PCBs to PFAS – A global cruise in persistence, long-range transport and… ...Read more
• The EPA’s “Leadership Summit” on PFOA pollution will exclude victims and community groups - STEEP's Grandjean says the, "EPA today is at least 10 years behind the scientific evidence on PFAS." Researchers and community groups were not invited to share scientific results with EPA as it searches for appropriate… ...Read more
• EPA is keeping troubling new study on drinking water under wraps - Unpublished study says communities across the country may be exposed to concerning levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances with adverse health effects. It is hoped that EPA's upcoming National Leadership Summit will take action on… ...Read more