In recent years, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances or, as they are more commonly known, “PFAS,” have been the subject of high-profile litigation and heightened scrutiny by federal and state governments as concerns rise about the risks they present to human health and the environment. This trend is of significant interest…
The term “phthalate” denotes a class of chemicals that have been used since the 1920s to improve the flexibility and durability of plastic. Accordingly, phthalates can be found in hundreds, if not thousands, of everyday products, ranging from food packaging to toys, medical devices, construction materials, textiles, cosmetics, soaps, and…
Given the ubiquity of PFAS in commercial products, the expectation is that U.S. regulation of PFAS and liability risks associated with PFAS will be of interest to a wide array of Japanese businesses, including specialty chemical companies, industrial manufacturers, oil and gas operations, and trading companies. This below article briefly…
The Implications on EPCRA Reporting The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (NDAA) required that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) add certain poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to the Toxic Release Inventory (TRI). EPA’s final rule adding these PFAS to the TRI toxic chemicals list took effect…
On February 20, 2020, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or the Agency) took another step toward tightening its regulation of a wide range of several thousand synthetic chemicals known as perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) by issuing a pre-publication notice of a proposed regulatory determination to develop drinking water standards for…
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has taken another step toward regulating perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Specifically, on February 20, 2020, the EPA issued a pre-publication version of a Supplemental Proposed Rule that could affect a host of businesses that traditionally have not had to concern themselves with Toxic Substances Control…
Per- and polyfluouroalykyl substances, or PFAS, are the subject of heightened scrutiny by federal and state governments as concerns rise about the tenacious chemicals’ impact on human health. PFAS are a group of several thousand synthetic chemical compounds resistant to heat, water, and oil that have become ubiquitous in modern…