NAVIGATING PFAS CHALLENGES: RISK MITIGATION AND LIABILITY MANAGEMENT
R&C: Could you explain what per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are and how specific chemicals within the PFAS group are being treated through regulation?
Horstkamp: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large group of chemicals with inherently highly resistive properties that make them useful, for example in material applications that are exposed to high heat or in highly corrosive environments, or to act as water or oil repellents. These resistive characteristics are beneficial for residential and commercial buildings, automobiles, aviation, electronics and other consumer products that we all use in our daily lives. That resistivity that we appreciate in our products, however, is the downside to these molecules: they do not break down easily and can accumulate in the environment. Some PFAS have been found in public water systems. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), there are over 600 individual PFAS manufactured or imported to the US. Regulations are in the early stages of development. Some specific PFAS were phased out starting in the early 2000s. These include materials found in certain firefighting foams and in cosmetics. Regulatory agencies are trying to find balance between an all-out ban on any PFAS molecule to the more deliberate approach of scientific analysis and informed, risk-based decision making.
Apr-Jun 2024 Issue
Marsh