PRESIDENT ’ S VIEW
EBC Working Group Studies PFAs , Emerging Contaminants
By Anthony Russo President , CIANJ
Lead , Mercury , dioxins , and PCBs have long dominated conversations in the environmental business community as government and industry grapple with these contaminants ’ effects and try to shield the public from harm .
A new focus is now emerging , however , around PFAs – per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances – which are a group of manufactured chemicals that have been used in industry and consumers products since the 1940s because of their useful properties . There are at least 7,000 chemicals in this category . The U . S . Environmental Protection Agency reports that the one common characteristic among PFAs is that they break down slowly and can build up in people , animals , and the environment over time .
CIANJ ’ s very active Environmental Business Council has already formed a working group to delve into this emerging contaminant . The EBC is comprised of a wide array of firms focused on the environmental field , including contractors , licensed site remediation professionals ,
laboratories , engineers , attorneys and others . They are eager to learn of the regulatory and legislative impact of PFAs , especially since there are now eight bills working through the New Jersey Legislature addressing the issue .
PFAs are found everywhere , such as in the water we drink from public water systems and private wells . Dairy products can contain it because livestock could have been exposed . Food packaging is another common source because PFAs are used in grease-resistant paper , fast food containers , microwave popcorn bags , pizza boxes and candy wrappers . It ’ s in household products too , like non-stick cookware , paints , varnishes and stains and water repellants used in carpets . PFAs are in some shampoo , cosmetics , and even fire extinguishers .
There is a growing concern that these chemicals are linked to health problems and many government agencies are now studying the effects .
At one of the latest CIANJ events on Superfund sites , the experts and environmental authorities stressed there is a great need for more study . We agree wholeheartedly .
The federal EPA established a Council on PFAs to develop a strategy to protect public health and the environment from the impacts of the chemicals .
In its approach the EPA will study the full lifecycle of PFAs , their unique properties , the ubiquity of their uses and the multiple pathways for exposure . The federal agency intends to focus on preventing the chemicals from entering the environment in the first place . This is considered a foundational step to reducing the exposure and its potential risks .
The EPA is intent on science-based decision-making . Toward that goal , it pledges to invest in scientific research to fill gaps in understanding of PFAs , to identify which PFAs may pose human health and ecological risks at which exposure levels , and to develop methods to test , measure , remove and destroy them .
In President Biden ’ s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law there is $ 2 billion available to address emerging contaminants , including PFAs , in drinking water .
CIANJ will be partnering with CPES ( Continuing Professional Education Services Inc .) to hold a special event in June focusing on PFAs . Don Richardson , president of EWMA , Environmental Consulting & Remediation , who is chairing the special EBC committee on the emerging contaminants , is working with Phil Brilliant from CPES and Brilliant Environmental Services , to solicit speakers and develop the content . We are expecting manufacturers , executive from the water utilities , and environmental companies will participate and discuss the latest regulatory and legislative impacts .
At a recent CIANJ event on Superfund sites , experts and environmental authorities stressed the great need for more study of chemical contaminates .
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Photo : Getty Images / iStockphoto / Cylonphoto
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