Keep up with PFAS-related developments in the Great Lakes area with Great Lakes Now’s biweekly headline roundup.
Click on the headline to read the full story:
Michigan
Federal Court Remands AG’s PFAS Lawsuit Against Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority Back to State Court — State of Michigan
The U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan granted the sState’s motion to remand its lawsuit against the Gerald R. Ford International Airport Authority for PFAS contamination.
Sampling research breaks down PFAS contamination pathways in food sources — Michigan Advance
Assessing the risk level of PFAS contamination in various types of home-produced foods shows that animal products are usually at higher risk than plants, with freshwater fish holding the highest risk.
Dingell, Fitzpatrick, Ryan Introduce PFAS Action Act — Debbie Dingell
Members of Congress introduced comprehensive bipartisan PFAS legislation. The bill would establish a national drinking water standard for select PFAS chemicals by accelerating the designation of PFOA and PFOS chemicals as hazardous substances, limit industrial discharge, and provide $200 million annually to assist water utilities and wastewater treatment.
Minnesota
U of M study examines how to break down ‘forever chemicals’ — FOX 9
A new University of Minnesota study is looking into an enzyme that can hopefully can break down PFAS. They have engineered a bacterium to make the enzyme that has been known to degrade fluorinated compounds.
What you need to know about Minnesota’s Jan. 1 ban on PFAS chemicals in food containers — Star Tribune
Minnesota is one of 11 states banning PFAS in food packaging in the next year.
‘Forever chemicals’ remain in Minnesota, but Pentagon says PFAS are crucial to national security — KSTP
In a letter to Congress in August, the Department of Defense outlined the many critical uses of PFAS in aircraft, missile systems, and a wide variety of other products. The report specifically cited 3M’s decision to phase out the production of PFAS as a particular concern.
Ohio
Ohio Settles with DuPont Over PFAS Liability for $110 Million — JD Supra
Ohio settled with DuPont de Nemours, Inc. to resolve allegations that the company’s historic activities caused environmental damage and contamination with PFAS chemicals. Under the terms of the settlement, DuPont will pay $110 million to Ohio, which the state will use to address pollution.
Ohio will measure forever chemicals in rivers, but DeWine says factories are up to the feds — Cincinnati Enquirer
Ohio will become the first state in the country to measure large rivers for PFAS contamination, but Governor Mike DeWine said regulating manufacturers and oil and gas companies should be left up to the federal government.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin city files lawsuit against ‘forever chemical’ makers amid groundwater contamination — USA Today
A lawsuit was filed on behalf of Wausau, Wisconsin, against 15 PFAS manufacturers and 61 major insurance agencies over groundwater contamination.
Conservation group estimates PFAS cleanup in state drinking water would cost $208 million — Wisconsin Examiner
Wisconsin Green Fire, a conservation group with a membership largely made up of former state Department of Natural Resources employees, released a report that estimates the capital cost for PFAS treatment of public water systems and other sources of water would be $208 million.
High levels of PFAS found in well at 3M plant in Wausau — Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
3M said drinking water is being made available to employees at the Greystone location, but no source has been located for the PFAS contamination.
Cities grapple with costs of removing PFAS from drinking water — MPR News
In a field south of Highway 61, Cottage Grove Mayor Myron Bailey watched as bulldozers moved dirt for a new, $39 million treatment plant to remove so-called “forever chemicals” from the city’s water supply. “It’s taken 17 years to get here,” said Bailey, referring to how long it’s been since human-made PFAS were first detected in his city’s water.
National
WHO Classifies Two Major PFAS as Carcinogenic to Humans, Underlines Risk of Dietary Exposure — Food Safety Magazine
The International Agency for Research on Cancer, the cancer agency of the World Health Organization, has evaluated the carcinogenicity of PFOA and PFOS and classified them as “carcinogenic to humans” and “possibly carcinogenic to humans” respectively.
Rejecting 3M, DuPont PFAS settlements risks decade-long legal fights, judge warns — Reuters
The U.S. judge overseeing thousands of lawsuits over toxic PFAS chemicals warned that any water utility that opts out of proposed settlements with 3M, DuPont de Nemours and others may have to wait a decade to resolve their individual cases.
PFAS exposure linked to decreased bone health in adolescents and young adults — Medical Xpress
A growing body of research has linked PFAS chemicals to lower bone mineral density, which can lead to osteoporosis and other bone diseases. But most of those studies have focused on older, non-Hispanic white participants and only collected data at a single point in time. Researchers from the Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California studied two groups of young participants, primarily Hispanics, a group that faces a heightened risk of bone disease in adulthood.
US EPA orders packaging firm Inhance to stop making PFAS — Chemical & Engineering News
The US Environmental Protection Agency is cracking down on a fluorination process that enhances the barrier properties of certain plastic containers.
3 Things You Can Do to Fight Toxic PFAS Forever Chemicals — Food & Water Watch
From frying pans to raincoats, carpets to mascara, corporations profit handsomely off “non-stick,” “waterproof,” and similarly labeled products. But these everyday goods come with a high cost. Scientists are uncovering growing evidence that PFAS are incredibly harmful to our health — and they’re everywhere.
‘Forever chemicals’ found in freshwater fish, yet most states don’t warn residents — Alaska Beacon
Researchers, anglers, and environmental activists nationwide worry about the staggering amount of PFAS found in freshwater fish. At least 17 states have issued PFAS-related fish consumption advisories, KFF Health News found, with some warning residents not to eat any fish caught in particular lakes or rivers because of dangerous levels of forever chemicals.
Exposure to forever chemicals when pregnant could make your child obese — Fast Company
New research suggests the risk to humans posed by PFAS, which are found in common household items, starts even before birth.
Netherlands warns children not to swallow sea foam over PFAS concerns — The Guardian
The Dutch government has warned people to stop children and pets swallowing foam at the seaside, after a study showed PFAS were concentrated in the spume.
PFAS Class Action Dismissed in Sixth Circuit — The National Law Review
On November 27, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals held that a proposed class action lacked standing to proceed with PFAS claims, denying “one of the largest class actions in history,” and dismissing the case entirely.
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