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PFAS: An urgent issue for companies in the EU 🚨 Per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) are in the global spotlight due to their widespread use and potential health and environmental impacts. In the EU in particular, the regulation of these chemicals is a top priority to protect public health. Our blog article highlights: ✅ The origins and concerns around PFAS: What are PFAS, where are they found, and why are they so problematic for humans and the environment? ✅ Regulation of PFAS in the EU: From the Persistent Organic Pollutants (POP) regulations to new regulations under REACH - the article explains how the EU is tackling the risks of PFAS with various regulations. ✅ What companies need to know: Developments around PFAS regulations present major challenges, but also opportunities. Companies that switch to safer alternatives early on can gain a competitive advantage. Find the link to our blog article in the comments! 👇 #PFAS #PFASRegulations #EU 

Epcon's advisory work with the Department of Commerce via the Environmental Technology Trade Advisory Committee ( ETTAC) regarding the regulations around PFAS and "forever chemicals" made the headlines. Learn more about the environmental and health concerns with PFAS substances and how bans could affect global supply chains.   Advisory panel urges Commerce to press EU on PFAS regs’ trade implications | InsideTrade.com   PFAS, short for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances, are a group of man-made chemicals that have been around since the 1940s. Recent studies have linked PFAS exposure to a range of health problems, including increased cholesterol levels, changes in liver enzymes, decreased vaccine response in children, and increased risks of certain cancers. What's more alarming is that PFAS contamination is widespread, affecting water supplies, air, and soil across the globe, making it a pressing public health concern. As we push for stronger regulations and safer alternatives, it's crucial to stay informed and reduce your exposure by avoiding products made with these chemicals, advocating for clean water, stricter regulations around air quality and industrial manufacturing involving PFAS chemicals and supporting policies that aim to responsibly eliminate PFAS use. Contact Epcon to learn how we can mitigate PFAS pollution and help make a difference for our health and the planet. #PFASAwareness #EnvironmentalHealth #TakeAction

On April 10, 2024, the Biden-Harris Administration approved the PFAS water maximum contaminant levels proposed by US Environmental Protection Agency in March 2023. This will apply to 6 specific PFAS chemicals. The maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) are set well below levels that may pose a concern to health. PFAS, or Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are thousands of different chemicals, used in aerospace, automotive, construction, and electronics industries. Now, while they are colloquially called “forever chemicals”, this is a misnomer. They don’t last forever, but it does take about 8 years for PFAS to biodegrade. Only a few PFAS have toxicity concerns to humans, animals, & the environment. The majority of PFAS exposure is associated with people working in those industries, and for consumers: food packaging and cosmetics, not drinking water. PFOA & PFOS are the two most common PFAS. EPA set a MCL of 4 parts per trillion with a target goal of zero. For PFNA, PFHxS, & “GenX Chemicals” (HFPO-DA), EPA set the MCLGs and MCLs at 10 parts per trillion. For context: a part per trillion is is equivalent to 1 drop of water in 20 Olympic-size swimming pools, or one second of time in approximately 31,700 years. There is some evidence that high exposure of certain PFAS may be linked to reproductive effects, developmental delays, increased cancer risk, obesity risk, & decreased immune system function. While drinking water is not a primary source of PFAS exposure, mitigating potential sources of exposure is a valid public health measure. Clickbait headlines last summer misinterpreted a study from the U.S. Geological Survey. They did NOT find toxic levels of PFAS in 45% of our drinking water. In fact, fewer than 7% of samples tested had detectable PFOA or PFOS. In addition, detection does not mean health relevance. Remember: we have some of the most sensitive analytical chemistry tools on the planet. For more on the nuance and the data, check out the newsletter at ➡️ https://lnkd.in/gHKX75i5 special thanks to Christopher P Weis, PhD, DABT for reviewing my analysis of the USGS study last year! #scicomm #publichealth #PFAS

https://lnkd.in/dWbT8iDt AI-generated summary: PFAS (forever chemicals) pose a major health and environmental risk due to their persistence and widespread use. EPA's current actions (PFAS Strategic Roadmap, Superfund regulations) are a start but insufficient. A systems-driven approach is needed, involving producers, regulators, and stakeholders. Supply chains should work to develop PFAS alternatives. Transparency about PFAS in products is essential for informed consumer choices. Litigation outcomes can fund research into PFAS alternatives. Bold, large-scale action is necessary to address PFAS risks effectively.

💥 This week, we’re busting five common industry myths about the #PFAS ban! 📣 As decision time gets closer, industry opposition to the EU’s proposed ban on PFAS substances is getting louder. Powerful PR teams are pumping out the message that the world will end without PFAS. Their propaganda has been published or broadcast so often that it’s often assumed to be common knowledge. But that doesn’t make it true. ✅ So far, we’ve busted two myths. Next up is the claim that not all PFAS are harmful and the bad ones are already banned. 🤓 While it is true that not all PFAS are equally toxic, the fact that they do not break down in nature is in itself cause for concern. Persistence leads to increased concentrations, which leads to levels that will eventually have effects, so even less toxic PFAS will impact human health and the #environment over time. Moreover, the more we know about PFAS molecules, the more hazard endpoints they show. ⚖️ Finally, the bad ones – those where #health concerns are most acute – have by no means gone away. Only a tiny handful of PFAS chemicals have been restricted so far. The only way to effectively ban such a huge group of chemicals is through a group-based approach. Otherwise, we will continue to have a lot of “regrettable substitutions” on our hands and legislation won’t be able to keep up. 👉🏻 Follow the link to find out exactly why this and other industry claims are false: https://lnkd.in/dgUAzcey

Professor Ian Cousins together with a coalition of leading international scientists presented a co-signed letter to UK ministers. This letter urges the government to strengthen its regulation of harmful PFAS chemicals, commonly referred to as "forever chemicals." These substances, used in everyday products, are linked to significant health risks such as cancer and immune system suppression. The group highlights the urgent need for the UK to align with European standards in addressing the environmental and health threats posed by PFAS. Get the full story & read the letter: https://lnkd.in/ecbsfrre #PFAS #ForeverChemicals #EnvironmentalScience #PublicHealth #UKRegulation #Sustainability

What are "forever chemicals," and where does the EU Commission stand on "forever chemicals" (PFAS)? 💡 PFAS, a class of human-made chemicals pervasive in products since the 1950s, offer useful properties but are harmful to human health and ecosystems. The widespread use of perfluoroalkyl and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is only now revealing significant environmental and health impacts. These "forever chemicals" are: ⚡ Indestructible - PFAS do not naturally break down, persisting in the environment for decades or centuries. 📈 Accumulative - PFAS can build up inside our bodies over time, potentially harming our health. 🌎 Widespread - PFAS contaminate our water, soil, food, and ecosystems on a global scale. Now, let's dive into the EU Commission's stance on PFAS and how regulation is shaping up to reduce the use of PFAS in various industries. 🇪🇺 In January 2023, five European countries proposed restricting around 10,000 PFAS chemicals under the EU's REACH regulation, currently under review by ECHA's scientific committees after a public consultation. While no EU-wide ban exists yet, the European Commission will consider the proposal based on ECHA's findings, with the timeline for finalising the restriction remaining uncertain. Below is an image of PFAS and their use in different industries and sectors. Sources: https://lnkd.in/dc4zpKtD #ForeverChemicals #PFAS #ChemicalPollution #EnvironmentalProtection #SustainableChemistry #CircularEconomy #EUGreenDeal #ChemicalRegulation #ToxicSubstances #HealthandSafety #EnvironmentalImpact

A group of twelve EU leaders is urging for a Europe-wide ban on toxic forever chemicals. PFAS, found in various products, can persist in the environment and human bodies, leading to severe health issues. The leaders, part of an awareness campaign, had their blood tested for these chemicals. Despite Europe having strong chemical control systems, the campaign revealed widespread exposure, emphasizing the urgent need for a ban. How might a Europe-wide ban on forever chemicals pave the way for global initiatives addressing the use and impact of such substances on human health and the environment?

Did you know that according to the EPA, there are 16,100 PFAS (Forever Chemical) ingredients? Surprisingly, only 5% of them have any association with diseases or environmental concerns, whether positive or negative. The remaining 95% have no scientific research linking them to any health or environmental risks at this time. It's early days of research into the health and environmental impact of most PFAS ingredients so new evidence may emerge of additional potentially harmful ingredients. In fact, in Q42023, there were 289 of those 16,100 ingredients that had a new disease association. #EPA #health #environment #sustainability #pfas #pfasfree

Proposal for a Belgian inter-federal master plan on the 'forever chemicals' PFAS   🆕 #ToxicFree4EU 👉 https://lnkd.in/eYxSRVkP   (1 July 2024) The outgoing Environment Minister in Wallonia, Céline Tellier, proposed an inter-federal plan for PFAS to address the PFAS water pollution discovered earlier this year in the Wallon region of Belgium.   She said that a plan should include leadership and action at all political levels, including by the European Union, and focus on stopping pollution at source and clean up. It should also apply the precautionary principle to help compensate victims.   "Our chemical industry needs to reinvent itself, and our role is to guide it in doing so", the Minister said.   Last week, the results of the PFAS blood testing of citizens in Chièvres, where the water scandal began, were published. The scientist in charge of the biomonitoring said the results show that their PFAS exposure is 4 to 8 times higher than the rest of the population in Wallonia. Public authorities are now implementing a counselling programme, to help citizens cope with the news.   This year, Denmark has also adopted a national action plan on PFAS, which includes several measures to clean up polluted sites, a plan to deal with PFAS in food, subsidies for water companies and a total budget of 56 million euro for implementation. #PFAS #ChemicalPollution #chemicals Céline Tellier