PFAS – Page 2 – Alliance for a Healthy Tomorrow

Possible PFAS settlements of over 10 billion may not be enough, say 22 AGs

June 9, 2023

Across the county, states and municipalities are suing major manufacturers of PFAS and PFAS-containing firefighting foam. On June 3, 2023, Bloomberg Law reported that 3M company had reached a tentative settlement of $10 billion to settle legal claims from a multi-district case. Separately, Dupont de Nemours Inc., Chemours Company and Corteva Inc announced a proposed $1.19 billion settlement. While the proposed settlements would be the largest ever in a case against PFAS manufacturers, the funds may not be enough to…

New York Times: Three “Forever Chemicals” Manufacturers Settle Public Water Lawsuits

June 9, 2023

Laura Spark

PFAS, Toxic Chemicals

On June 2, 2023, the New York Times reported that Chemours, DuPont and Corteva had tentatively reached an agreement to pay $1.9 billion to settle claims agains the companies for contaminating drinking water. The monies would be put into clean up fund Separately, Bloomberg News also reported on Friday that 3M had a tentative settlement of over $10 billion with states and cities that have sued the company for its role in contaminating water. Both of these settlements must be…

Fall River and Nantucket firefighters among those being honored for work against toxic chemicals

June 9, 2023

Laura Spark

PFAS

Clean Water Action held its annual celebration on May 23, 2023. Among those feted were: Ayesha Khan Barber, Co-Founder of the Nantucket PFAS Action Group; Captain Nate Barber andFire Deputy Chief Sean Mitchell, both from the Nantucket Fire Department; and Professional Firefighters of Massachusetts District 8 Vice President, Jason Burns of Fall River. They were given the John O’Connor Grassroots Organizing Award for helping to launch a nationwide effort to eliminate per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from the fire service. …

WBUR: Massachusetts Firefighters and their families are on the front lines of a battle with “forever chemicals”

April 19, 2023

Laura Spark

PFAS

First Diane Cotter in Maine, then Nate Khan in Nantucket, and Jason Burns in Fall River. Firefighters and their partners are fighting to get toxic PFAS out of firefighter personal protective equipment and out of firefighting foam. PFAS are in lots of products, and all of us are exposed. But, firefighters are particularly at risk. The levels of PFAS in firefighting gear are extraordinarily high. And firefighters have used PFAS-containing firefighting foam for decades. Firefighters are also exposed to toxic…

Major Mount Sinai study links PFAS to reduced fertility

March 27, 2023

Laura Spark

PFAS, Toxic Chemicals

Researchers at New York’s Mount Sinai Hospital have found that exposure to PFAS reduces female fertility by 30-40%, significantly lessening the chances of pregnancy and birth among women of child-bearing age. Mount Sinai study was published in Science of the Toal Environment and showed a link between higher blood concentrations of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and reduced fertility. See full study here: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36801327/Press release here : https://www.mountsinai.org/about/newsroom/2023/exposure-to-chemicals-found-in-everyday-products-is-linked-to-significantly-reduced-fertility

New York Times: Many personal care products contain harmful chemicals

February 17, 2023

Laura Spark

General, Personal Care Products, PFAS

On February 16, 2023, the New York Times reported on the increasing body of evidence linking chemicals in personal care products to serious health concerns. The NYT provides a great breakdown of steps consumers can to take to avoid problematic chemicals in personal care products: “Understand which chemicals are worrisome… Consider how you’re using your products… Consult a database… Look for third-party certifications… Ask for more transparency and stronger policies.” Read the full story here.

Propublica: “Why the U.S. is losing the fight to ban toxic chemicals”

December 15, 2022

Laura Spark

Flame Retardants, PFAS, Toxic Chemicals, Uncategorized

Why the U.S. is losing the fight to ban toxic chemicals On December 14, 2022, expert environmental reporters at ProPublica wrote this excellent analysis on the state of chemical regulation in the United States. This is a must-read article for anyone who cares about public health! Read full story at: https://www.propublica.org/article/toxic-chemicals-epa-regulation-failures

Report recommends blood testing, medical monitoring for people exposed to PFAS.

September 6, 2022

Laura Spark

PFAS, Uncategorized

On July 28, 2022, WBUR’s Barbara Moran reported on a new National Academies of Science study that recommends blood tests and medical monitoring for people likely to have high exposure to the toxic chemicals known as PFAS. The report describes the link between blood levels of PFAS and certain illnesses. According to Moran, It concludes there is now “sufficient evidence” of association between PFAS exposure and kidney cancer in adults, decreased infant and fetal growth, decreased immune response, and…

Environmental Health News: Washington State Fastest Timeline Banning PFAS by 2025

April 8, 2022

Laura Spark

PFAS

New Washington state bill is the “fastest timeline in the nation” for phasing out PFAS Washington State has passed a new state bill that authorizes state administrators to take steps to ban PFAS in clothing, non-stick pans, cosmetics, cleaning products, and firefighter gear by 2025 In an April 27, 2022 story, Environmental Health News quotes Liz Berry, bill sponsor, who says she filed the bill after reading about a 2021 study on PFAS in breast milk. The study of 50…