The Environmental Protection Agency Announces Limited PFAS roadmap
PFAS
FAA Must End the Use of Polluting PFAS Firefighting Foam
View our Congressional briefing.
Here’s how a federal agency “meets” a deadline without actually doing what Congress wanted it to do by that deadline.
Gore-Tex manufacturer announces availability of new PFAS-free membrane, but still uses “forever chemicals” to make its outdoor apparel and gear
Health advocates call for a ban of PFAS “forever chemicals” in products
New investigation reveals U.S. chemical manufacturing facility released a potent climate pollutant equivalent to 1 billion pounds of carbon dioxide in one year
Daikin America facilities in Alabama are a major source of toxic PFAS pollution and ozone-depleting chemicals
Why We Must Act Now to Adopt PFAS Drinking Water Standards
Access to clean drinking water is a basic human right. But, as a result of lax regulations on dangerous chemicals used in products, drinking water all around the country, including Washington state, has been contaminated with per and polyfluoralkyl substances (PFAS), impacting tens of millions of people. PFAS are highly persistent and toxic chemicals linked to immune suppression, decreased fertility, and even cancer. Continue reading
Washington State fails to protect low-income communities from toxic chemicals
By Colin Hartke
Community members living in affordable housing and construction workers building affordable housing in Washington State are left vulnerable to toxic chemicals under a recently updated regulation. The Department of Commerce (DOC) has released an update to the Evergreen Sustainable Development Standard (ESDS). It’s the state-wide regulation that must be followed for construction and remodeling of affordable housing that gets state funding, and the updated version lacks important protections from dangerous toxics. Continue reading
An ounce of prevention will save millions for taxpayers
If there needs to be any more evidence for why ending the use of PFAS in products is urgent, just look at this year’s 2021-23 budget adopted by the state legislature.
Washington state takes one step forward, two steps back, on PFAS in food packaging ban
The Department of Ecology (Ecology) recently took a first step in implementing the state’s PFAS ban in food packaging by issuing an alternatives assessment that identifies safer alternatives for some important applications, including wraps and liners, plates, food boats, and pizza boxes. Because of this assessment, a statewide ban on PFAS in these four food packaging categories will now go into effect in early 2023. Continue reading
Protect low-income communities from toxic chemicals in affordable housing
By Colin Hartke
Update: Read the comments that Toxic-Free Future, Healthy Building Network, and Natural Resources Defense Council submitted to the Department of Commerce Evergreen Sustainable Development Standard Team.
From PFAS to toxic flame retardants, dangerous chemicals harmful to health are in the materials used to build housing, including affordable housing. These chemicals don’t stay put in flooring, insulation, and other materials; they get into indoor air and dust. This means that families and communities are exposed to toxic chemicals even at home. Continue reading
Update on Washington State’s Chemical Action Plan on PFAS
Last December Toxic-Free Future called for action, asking you to join us in submitting comments advocating for a stronger, swifter chemical action plan (CAP) on PFAS chemicals (per- and polyfluoralkyl substances) from Washington State’s Department of Ecology (Ecology). Along with our allies, we also just submitted comments directly to the Department of Ecology this month on their draft CAP, which can be found here. Continue reading