PFAS

House Passes NDAA Amendments to Tackle PFAS Contamination Crisis

Carina Wells | 

CONTACT: Liz Hitchcock, 202-277-5678, lizhitchcock@saferchemicals.org, or 
Laurie Valeriano, 206-200-2824, lvaleriano@toxicfreefuture.org

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the House of Representatives passed its version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) with measures that begin to take action on the PFAS contamination crisis. This action by the House follows the Senate’s vote on its version of the NDAA that also included provisions to address PFAS pollution. Both bills included important provisions to phase out the military’s use of firefighting foam containing PFAS chemicals, which has led to contamination of water supplies for millions of Americans. Continue reading →

Opportunity Before Congress to Stop Military Use of Toxic Firefighting Foam

Carina Wells | 

UPDATE: Both the U.S. House and Senate have passed versions of the military spending bill including provisions to phase out PFAS-containing firefighting foam, but with different timelines. The bill now heads to a conference committee. 

The use of PFAS chemicals in firefighting foam is a major source of drinking water contamination, with PFAS chemicals contaminating the water of at least 1 in 20 Americans. A large amount of this contamination comes from military bases across the country.

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New Study Finds Toxic PFAS Chemicals in Compost

Carina Wells | 

Compost is a sustainable resource, it keeps waste from going into landfills, and it is nutrient dense, meaning it’s great for growing food and reduces dependence on potentially toxic inputs like fertilizers. But a new study finds that the safety of commercial composts that accept takeout containers is threatened by the presence of toxic PFAS chemicals.

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FAA Urged to Allow Use of Safer Firefighting Foams

Carina Wells | 

The dangerous class of nonstick chemicals called “PFAS” contaminates drinking water, communities, and people across the United States. One of the culprits: PFAS put into firefighting foams used at airports as required by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The FAA requirement means that these foams remain a big concern when it comes to PFAS pollution, unnecessarily exposing communities and firefighters to the dangerous chemicals.

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Major Retailers Phasing Out Worst of the Worst Chemicals

Carina Wells | 

As consumers increasingly demand less toxic products and laws require the use of safer chemicals, retailers are requiring suppliers to stop using harmful chemicals in consumer products.

Chemicals included in these voluntary phaseouts include four classes of chemicals that have emerged as a particular concern for the health of both humans and wildlife: PFAS, toxic flame retardants, phthalates, and APEs.

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Our Shared Contamination Crisis

Carina Wells | 

Harmful toxic chemicals added to consumer products, like TVs or carpeting, can escape the product and contaminate our homes, food, breastmilk, and bodies. The same toxic chemicals, including toxic flame retardants, phthalates, and nonstick PFAS, are making their way into the environment and affecting the health of orcas, their young, and their food sources too. Continue reading →

Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s Pledge Initial Action on Nonstick PFAS

Carina Wells | 

By Laurie Valeriano, Toxic-Free Future, and Mike Schade, Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families

Yesterday, our new report revealed that toxic PFAS chemicals are hiding in common takeout packaging and other food contact materials at some of the nation’s largest and most popular grocery stores. 

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New Tests Show PFAS-Free Firefighting Foams Effective

Carina Wells | 
Conference participants watch testing of PFAS-free firefighting foams

Toxic-Free Future’s Science Director, Erika Schreder, recently traveled to a conference in Dallas to gain more expertise on firefighting foams. She wanted to find out how well PFAS-free foams perform as we work with airports and refineries to stop the use of PFAS-containing foams. This research is critical as states and the Federal Aviation Administration consider restrictions on PFAS containing foams. Continue reading →