Alan Thorn’s Post

Good insight for up-to-date PFAS research, origin, and their risk. Nowadays PFAS becomes an exclusion.

Our latest Trending Topic covers the impact of PFAS “forever chemicals”. The future implications of PFAS for insurance companies are becoming increasingly significant as claims for environmental contamination and exposure harm increase. PFAS litigation is gaining traction globally, and it is likely legal action will continue to evolve and play a role in shaping policy and public health responses to these persistent chemicals. Liberty’s Casualty Risk Engineers have studied and tracked PFAS since it emerged as a problem. Angelo Maniatis highlights what we currently know about these chemicals, and how legislation, regulation and litigation is unfolding around the world. View Liberty's PFAS experience at https://lnkd.in/g_VWt8zw

On Friday, November 8, Roux’s Chase Gerbig, PhD PE will speak on a panel entitled "There’s Something in the Water: PFAS Strike Again" at 2pm at the The Institutes CPCU Society In2Risk Conference. This panel will discuss US and global implications of PFAS from legal, environmental, and insurance perspectives. https://bit.ly/4f5MwNs #In2Risk #Insurance #Litigation #Regulation #RiskManagement #PFAS #EmergingContaminants #Networking #Legal #Environmental #EnvironmentalConsulting #TechnicalEducation #ForeverChemicals #Health #HumanHealth

Insurers beware---Superfund is baaack! On April 19 the EPA designated the two most prevalent PFAS compounds as hazardous materials under CERCLA (Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, better known as Superfund). This makes it easier for the EPA to force polluters to clean up sites, but it also raises complicated issues about determining who is responsible. This action was not a surprise as the agency originally laid out this plan in its “2021 PFAS Strategic Roadmap.” This was the agency’s second recent PFAS action as on April 10 it established the first Federal drinking water standard. Once a chemical is listed as a “hazardous substance,” the EPA has the authority to order potentially responsible parties to clean up contaminated sites with the cost is being borne by those deemed liable. As an alternative, the EPA can clean up the site and seek reimbursement from those deemed responsible. These can be current or former owners or operators of a site. Because the liability is joint and several even those with minimal involvement can be held fully responsible. We presume most insurers have had PFAS on their radar screens for some time and have been analyzing their potential involvement. As insurers have learned from prior Superfund experiences, the designation of an entity as a potentially responsible party generates considerable uncertainty regarding the apportionment of costs. Expect a new wave of litigation and claims. #insurance#PFAS#EPA

PFAS is a hot topic with the EPA as seen in the designation of PFOA and PFOS as hazardous substances under CERLA. For many industries, the rapidly evolving regulation around this group of forever chemicals presents increasing risk of litigation.

Companies face tougher hurdles to protect themselves against potential per- and polyfluoroalkyl contamination costs and damages, as insurers tighten due diligence in underwriting policies that could be triggered by exposure to these so-called ‘forever chemicals’. Jayne Cunningham, head of environmental specialty risks at London-listed insurer Beazley, says she expects insurers to become increasingly restrictive in their PFAS coverage options, with some general insurers excluding it completely. Meanwhile, her colleague Oliver Wheeler, leader of international management liability, says boards could be particularly at risk of regulatory investigations, securities class actions and derivative claims if they appear non-compliant with evolving rules. Read more below. #PFAS #foreverchemicals #insurance https://lnkd.in/dpZRvyjw

PFAS liability risks are evolving. To help you get a handle on it, I’d like to invite you to an upcoming webinar, “How New EPA Rules Change PFAS Liability Risks” hosted by my colleagues here at Exponent. It takes place Thursday, May 30, 2024, from 10 – 11:30 a.m. PDT.    This complimentary webinar will explore the implications of EPA’s new hazardous substances designation for PFOS and PFOA under CERCLA and the new MCLs for six PFAS compounds. Our experts will also discuss the technical landscape and provide suggestions for identifying, delineating, and managing potential liability risks for PFAS. 

Managing PFAS liability risks just got more complicated. The EPA has a new hazardous substances designation for PFOS and PFOA under CERCLA, as well as new MCLs for six PFAS compounds. What does all this mean for your organization? Get answers in our complimentary webinar, “How New EPA Rules Change PFAS Liability Risks,” hosted by my colleagues here at Exponent. It takes place Thursday, May 30, 2024, from 10 – 11:30 a.m. PDT. Register here: https://lnkd.in/e4TBjeUu #Exponent #PFAS #EPA

Managing PFAS liability risks just got more complicated. The EPA has a new hazardous substances designation for PFOS and PFOA under CERCLA, as well as new MCLs for six PFAS compounds. What does all this mean for your organization? Get answers in our complimentary webinar, “How New EPA Rules Change PFAS Liability Risks,” hosted by my colleagues here at Exponent. It takes place Thursday, May 30, 2024, from 10 – 11:30 a.m. PDT.   Register here: https://lnkd.in/eD_6kKvm   #Exponent #PFAS #EPA  

New EPA ban: The two chemicals — perc, an industrial solvent commonly used in dry cleaning, and TCE, a substance found in consumer and manufacturing products including degreasing agents — are known carcinogens.