2. bruton - pfas updates carpet meeting 2019 · pfas in the 115th congress 14 “k street profits...
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PFASUpdatesTomBruton,PhD
GreenSciencePolicyInstitute
February14,2019
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)
Carbon-Fluorine bond strength:• Leads to oil and water repellency • “Forever chemicals” -- last for geologic time!
Courtesy:Dr.JenniferField
(C8)PFHxA or C6
2
F
FF
F F
F F
F F
F F
F F
F F
OH
O
F F
F F
F F
F F
F F
F F
OH
O
FF
FF
F
F F
F F
F F
F FFF
FF
F OH
O
F
FF
F F
F F
F F
F F
O
OH
F F
F FFF
FF
F
O
OH
F
FF
F F
F F
O
OHPFBA
PFPeA
PFHxA
PFHpA
PFOA
PFNA
PFDA
PFTeDA
F
FF
F F
F F
F F
F F
F F
F F
F F
F F
OH
O
F
FF
F F
F F
F F
F F
F F
F F
F F
F F
OH
OF F
F F
F F
F F
Common Uses
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Pathways to the Environment
4From California DTSC: Product-Chemical Profile for PFAS in Carpets and Rugs
PFAS exposure is a health concern
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DetectableserumPFASs
Non-detect
Exposure linked to health risks:Cancer, elevated cholesterol, obesity, immune suppression, and endocrine disruption
(Ref: Lewis et al., 2015; Grandjean et al., 2012; Braun et al., 2016; Barry et al., 2013)Courtesy, Cindy Hu, Harvard University
Hu et al., Environ. Sci. Technol. Lett. 2016 6
Drinking water
Scientific publications on PFAS
7Grandjean, Environ. Health. 2018
Drinking Water Health Guidelines
DuPont PFOA: 5000
DuPont PFOA: 1000
U.S. EPA PFOA: 400
New Jersey PFOA: 14
U.S. EPA PFOA: 70 New York
PFOA: 10
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Industrial Transition
Decabromodiphenyl ethane
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• �Favorable toxicological profile�1
• �Safe for intended use�2
1._https://www.chemours.com/Industrial_Bakery_Solutions/en_GB/sustainability/dibs_genx.html
2._https://fluorocouncil.com/fluorotechnology/terminology/
Concerns:• Extreme persistence• Bioaccumulation• Toxicity
Long-chain PFAS Short-chain PFAS
Or Regrettable Substitution?
Decabromodiphenyl ethaneConcerns:• Extreme persistence• Bioaccumulation• Toxicity
Concerns:• Extreme persistence• Build up in plants• Suspected toxicity• More mobile• Remediation more difficult• Chemical structures unknown • Harder to measure and monitor• Less regulated
Long-chain PFAS Short-chain PFAS
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Signed by 230 scientists from 40 countries
May 2015 The Madrid Statement on Highly Fluorinated Chemicals
“We call on the international community to cooperate in limiting the production and use of PFASs and in developing safer non-fluorinated alternatives.”
flickr@Marc
2015: Environmental Health Perspectives 11
Recent comments from CDC
Patrick Breysse, Director of the CDC’s National Center for Environmental Health:
The presence of perfluorinated chemicals in U.S. drinking water is “one of the most seminal public health challenges for the next decades.”
GREENSCIENCEPOLICYINSTITUTEwww.GreenSciencePolicy.org
- BNA News, Oct. 17, 2017
“…it won’t be too long before we think hundreds of millions of Americans will be drinking water with levels of these chemicals above levels of concern.”
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• Launched 1/24/19
• Goals• Educate• Legislate• Elevate• Appropriate
GREENSCIENCEPOLICYINSTITUTEwww.GreenSciencePolicy.org
Congressional PFAS Task Force
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Slotkin (MI-08)Tlaib (MI-13)Maloney (NY-18)Pappas (NH-04)
• Members: Lujan (NM-03)King (NY-03)McGovern (MA-02) Upton (MI-06)Huizenga (MI-02)
Dingell (MI-12)Turner (OH-10)Boyle (PA-02)Walberg (MI-07) Lawrence (MI-14)
Bergman (MI-01) Dean (PA-04)Delgado (NY-19) Levin (MI-09)Stevens (MI-11)
PFAS in the 115th Congress
14“K Street profits from drinking water fears.” E&E News. 2/5/19.
0
5
10
15
20
25
Q1 2017 Q2 2017 Q3 2017 Q4 2017 Q1 2018 Q2 2018 Q3 2018 Q4 2018
Num
ber o
f Gro
ups
Lobb
ying
LawsBills Lobbying Groups
• Sponsor: Rep. Dingell
• Cosponsors: Reps. Upton, Kildee, Wild, Khanna, Delgado & Pocan
• Would require EPA to designate all PFAS as hazardous substances under CERCLA (the Superfund law) within one year.
GREENSCIENCEPOLICYINSTITUTEwww.GreenSciencePolicy.org
PFAS Action ActH.R. 535, filed 1/14/19
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Public concern
GREENSCIENCEPOLICYINSTITUTEwww.GreenSciencePolicy.org
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Increased awareness of water contamination
Product testing
GREENSCIENCEPOLICYINSTITUTEwww.GreenSciencePolicy.org
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GREENSCIENCEPOLICYINSTITUTEwww.GreenSciencePolicy.org
Retailers phasing out PFAS
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• no PFAS in textiles since 2015
no added PFAS in textile products by 2022
no PFAS in home-brand products by 2025
Moving away from PFAS
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WithReducedUseofHighlyFluorinatedChemicals
Wecanhaveahealthierworld
www.GreenSciencePolicy.org