Environmental Industry Updates
The Latest News on Scientific and Regulatory Updates from Merit Laboratories
3M announced that it will exit per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) manufacturing and work to discontinue the use of PFAS across its product portfolio by the end of 2025. In the official announcement from 3M, the company said that it plans to. Exit all PFAS manufacturing by the end of 2025: 3M will discontinue manufacturing all fluoropolymers, fluorinated fluids, and PFAS-based additive products.
Nearly everyone in the United States has been exposed to PFAS and likely have PFAS in their blood, especially perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), according to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR). PFAS chemicals have been used in industry and consumer products worldwide since the 1950s. These forever chemicals are prevalent in non-stick cookware, water-repellent clothing, stain resistant fabrics and carpets, some cosmetics, some firefighting foams, and products that resist grease, water, and oil.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is the recipient of a $1-million grant to investigate the relationship between drinking water contaminated with PFAS and health outcomes. The grant was awarded by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR).
The rankings are out and three metals top the chart: arsenic, lead, and mercury. The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) has released its 2017 list of substances at EPA-managed contamination sites posing the most significant risk to human health. A total of 275 substances are listed on the entire ATSDR 2017 Substance Priority list. Here are the Top 50 substances listed.
