forever chemicals

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    Maryland Sues Gore-Tex for Polluting State’s Waters With PFAS

    Maryland Sues Gore-Tex for Polluting State’s Waters With PFAS

    The State of Maryland is suing the makers of Gore-Tex waterproof clothing for polluting the drinking water of residents living around the company’s rural Maryland facilities with toxic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) “forever chemicals.” The WL Gore and Associates facilities, located roughly 90 miles from Baltimore, have been polluting residents’ water with PFAS levels […]

    Scientists Develop Open Database With 500+ Potential PFAS Alternatives

    Scientists Develop Open Database With 500+ Potential PFAS Alternatives

    With increasing concerns regarding per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and their potential impacts on human health, scientists from the Department of Environmental Science at Stockholm University have compiled a comprehensive database with potential alternatives to these “forever chemicals.” According to the European Environment Agency, PFAS exposure has been linked to risks of liver damage, thyroid […]

    Chemours Chemical Plant Still Polluting West Virginia Water With Toxic PFAS After Almost 25 Years, Lawsuit Claims

    Chemours Chemical Plant Still Polluting West Virginia Water With Toxic PFAS After Almost 25 Years, Lawsuit Claims

    A Chemours chemical plant in West Virginia is polluting nearby waters with toxic PFAS “forever chemicals,” according to a new lawsuit brought by the West Virginia Rivers Coalition. The complaint is the most recent in a fight that has been ongoing since 2001 over pollution from the Washington Works plant, reported The Guardian. The PFAS-contaminated […]

    Scientists Identify Bacteria That Can Break Down Some PFAS and Their Byproducts

    Scientists Identify Bacteria That Can Break Down Some PFAS and Their Byproducts

    Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, have taken on the nickname “forever chemicals” for their inability to break down in the environment. These chemicals, which are found in everything from food packaging to camping gear, are popular for their stain-, moisture- and grease-resistant properties, but they have been found to accumulate in the environment and […]

    3M Knew PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’ in Its Firefighting Foams Were Toxic for Decades, Documents Reveal

    3M Knew PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’ in Its Firefighting Foams Were Toxic for Decades, Documents Reveal

    For decades, 3M — a multibillion-dollar chemical company based in Minnesota — sold its firefighting foams as safe and biodegradable, while having knowledge that they contained toxic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), according to newly uncovered documents, reported The Guardian. Starting in the 1960s and continuing until 2003, 3M’s firefighting foams contained perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) […]

    PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’ Used on Farms Could Significantly Raise Health Risks, EPA Draft Guidelines Warn

    PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’ Used on Farms Could Significantly Raise Health Risks, EPA Draft Guidelines Warn

    Toxic chemicals from sewage sludge used as fertilizer pose health risks to those who regularly consume products from farms that use it, in some instances raising cancer risk by “several orders of magnitude” over what is considered acceptable by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), federal officials said on Tuesday. EPA’s draft risk assessment, […]