The omnipresence of PFAS—and what we can do about them
Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)—also known as "forever chemicals"—are everywhere. Created in the 1940s, these synthetic compounds are an unseen ingredient in many items that we use in our daily lives, like cleaning products, food pack.....»»
Massachusetts governor signs law phasing out toxic PFAS in firefighters" gear
Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey signed into law Thursday a bill that would phase out the use of PFAS, a group of toxic industrial compounds, in firefighters' protective gear......»»
More microbes found that break down the carbon-fluorine bonds found in some unsaturated PFAS
A team of chemical and environmental engineers at the University of California Riverside, working with colleagues from the University of California Los Angeles, has found a class of microbes that consume PFAS in the environment and sever some of the.....»»
PFAS found in nearly all fish tested from four northern Illinois rivers
Scientists tested nine fish species from four northern Illinois rivers for contamination with per- or polyfluoroalkyl substances, synthetic chemicals found in numerous industrial and commercial products and known to be harmful to human health. They f.....»»
Room-temperature defluorination method uses light to clean up forever chemicals
Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), nicknamed "forever chemicals," pose a growing environmental and health threat. Since the invention of Teflon in 1938, PFAS and perfluorinated polymers or PFs have been widely used for their exceptional stability and.....»»
Study: Targeted home systems to remove PFAS more cost-effective than system-wide solutions
PFAS, the potentially cancer-causing chemicals known as "forever chemicals," have become an increasing concern in home drinking water. Solutions to reduce the risk of exposure range from mandated municipal-level water treatment to under-the-sink home.....»»
Lithium ion batteries a growing source of PFAS pollution, study finds
Texas Tech University's Jennifer Guelfo was part of a research team that found the use of a novel sub-class of per- and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) in lithium ion batteries is a growing source of pollution in air and water......»»
White House environmental official tours PFAS-site in Minnesota
A member of President Joe Biden's administration stopped in the city of Lake Elmo, Minnesota, on May 6 to talk PFAS with local officials, visiting an area that's been at the forefront of contamination just three weeks after the Biden administration r.....»»
Scientists advance research of harmful PFAS chemicals and their impacts
A bemused fishmonger at a seafood market in Portsmouth, N.H., weighed and packaged a dozen filets of fish and three lobster tails for his unusually exacting customers, Dartmouth researchers Celia Chen, Guarini, a research professor of biological scie.....»»
Drinking water in low-income communities is more likely to be contaminated by "forever chemicals," research finds
PFAS, or forever chemicals, are widespread and more likely to be found in public water systems serving low-income communities and communities of color in New Jersey, according to new research from Northeastern University......»»
Research seeks solution to PFAS chemicals in waste
Texas A&M AgriLife Research scientists are looking for a better way to remove or degrade stubborn pollutants, also called forever chemicals, from waste before they impact human and animal health......»»
EPA"s push to eliminate ‘forever chemicals" brings scrutiny to EV components
The EPA is moving to rid waterways of cancerous PFAS chemicals, but the auto industry still relies on some of them for crucial components and materials, including those used in EVs......»»
EPA’s PFAS rules: We’d prefer zero, but we’ll accept 4 parts per trillion
For two chemicals, any presence in water supplies is too much. Enlarge (credit: Layland Masuda) Today, the Environmental Protection Agency announced that it has finalized rules for handling water supplies that are contam.....»»
New study suggests we"re likely underestimating the future impact of PFAS in the environment
Per-and poly-fluoroalkyl substances—commonly known as PFAS—are a group of over 14,000 human-made chemicals that have been popular since the 1950s for their diverse skills in resisting heat, water, grease and stains......»»
Ocean waves propel PFAS back to land, new study finds
A new study by researchers at the Department of Environmental Science, Stockholm University, published in Science Advances, reveals that PFAS re-emit into the air from crashing ocean waves at levels comparable to or greater than other sources, establ.....»»
Textiles and food packaging biggest source of PFAS in Yangtze River
The first study of toxic "forever chemicals" along the full length of Asia's longest river, the Yangtze, has found 13 different types of PFAS, nearly half of them coming from textile treatments and food packaging......»»
The omnipresence of PFAS—and what we can do about them
Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)—also known as "forever chemicals"—are everywhere. Created in the 1940s, these synthetic compounds are an unseen ingredient in many items that we use in our daily lives, like cleaning products, food pack.....»»
Researchers unveil method to detect "forever chemicals" in under 3 minutes
PFAS have earned the name "forever chemicals" with good reason—the man-made compounds, which can take thousands of years to degrade and are found in everything from grease-resistant food packaging to water-repellent clothing, have made their way in.....»»
PFAS "forever chemicals" being spread on world"s ski slopes, study reveals
Skiers keen for slick runs are leaving toxic PFAS "forever chemicals" behind on ski slopes, research by The James Hutton Institute in Aberdeen and the University of Graz in Austria has revealed......»»
Alarming levels of PFAS contamination found in small coastal ecosystems
Micro-estuaries, often overlooked but vital ecosystems supporting biodiversity and enhancing human life quality in densely populated areas, play a crucial role in controlling the transfer of pollutants from land to sea. A new study investigating the.....»»
"Forever chemicals" in German drinking water: A hidden threat unveiled
In a study published in Eco-Environment & Health, researchers screened German drinking water for 26 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). This effort, notably supported by residents, marks a significant step in understanding the presence of PFA.....»»