In the last eight months, the attorneys general of North Carolina, California, Wisconsin and Illinois have sued various primary manufacturers of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), as well as over a dozen secondary manufacturers of PFAS-containing products. Each lawsuit alleges that the manufacture and distribution of PFAS and PFAS-containing products has led to widespread environmental contamination and harmful exposure.
In all, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington have placed or soon will be placing prohibitions on the distribution of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in food packaging containers, cookware and, in other cases, a wide range of products under the authority of consumer protection laws. Companies across the supply chain will be impacted by these regulations. Industry has criticized the state laws as overreaching, particularly considering the inability of certain state agencies to enforce these laws effectively.
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 fragrances. Their ubiquity has led some to nickname them the “Everywhere Chemical.”
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 life. The chemicals have been used since the 1940s to add water and stain repellency to fabric and carpet, to provide non-stick properties to food paper wrappings, and to make fire-fighting foams. They also are used in certain industrial operations, such as electroplating. While PFAS are useful for these and other purposes due to their hydrophobic and lipophobic properties, federal and state agencies have been scrutinizing the persistence of the chemical compounds, particularly in water sources.
PFAS Observer