PFAS

MAPPING PFAS

PFAS Waste Generation and Disposal

Beefalo hybrid of cattle and bison

January 2022 – Through a Freedom of Information Act request, PEER received data from EPA on PFAS transfers identified in hazardous waste e-manifests and state waste code searches. This data and the map PEER produced has information on the generation, storage, and disposal of almost 14 million kilograms of waste contaminated with PFAS between July 2018 and August 2021.

MAPPING PFAS

Over 120,000 Facilities “May Be Handling” PFAS

Beefalo hybrid of cattle and bison

October 2021 – After several Freedom of Information Act requests and a lawsuit, PEER received an EPA data set with information on some 120,000 industrial facilities that “may be handling” PFAS – with that information, we produced our own map of these facilities.

Forever Chemicals Everywhere

PEER works to protect public health and wildlife from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination. Unfortunately, the absence of enforceable federal health and environmental standards for PFAS poses a significant and growing threat to our health, water, and soil. A key cause for concern is that these so-called “forever chemicals” do not break down in the environment, many of which are toxic, and some bio-accumulate in the food chain — and in us.

PFAS are used as fire retardants and repellents; in consumer products, such as furniture, take-out containers, and non-stick cookware; and have many other applications. Human exposure to PFAS is associated with cancer, birth defects, developmental damage to infants, and impaired functioning of the liver, kidneys, and immune system.

Yet, an estimated 200 million Americans are drinking water contaminated with PFAS, and PFAS have also been found in grocery store meats, milk, seafood, bottled water, as well as in wild fish and game. Studies have also found PFAS in the bloodstream of 99% of Americans.

Although the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) knows of about 13,000 types of PFAS, it has only proposed drinking water limits on sixPFAS in drinking water and two PFAS under the Superfund hazardous waste cleanup program Much more needs to be done.

PEER is urging EPA to regulate PFAS as a class of chemicals and to classify waste contaminated with PFAS as a hazardous waste under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), so that it can be more safely managed during generation, transportation, and disposal. In addition, PEER continues to expose how EPA violates its own scientific integrity norms and guidance in approving PFAS chemicals for use. We also work vigorously to release to the public information on PFAS that EPA tries to keep hidden from the public.

PFAS in Fluorinated Containers

To address the growing threat of PFAS from fluorinated containers, PEER has been engaged in ongoing litigation against Inhance Technologies. Fluorinated containers are found in everything from household to industrial products the the fluorination process is responsible for the creation of PFAS chemicals that can leach into the products from the containers.

Read the latest: PEER and CEH Applaud EPA’s Decision to Protect People from PFAS that Leach from Plastic Containers

 

PFAS News and Resources

YouTube video
Beefalo hybrid of cattle and bison
YouTube video

NEWS FROM PEER

PFAS in Artificial Turf Coats Players’ Skin

Dermal Uptake Little Examined Exposure Pathway for Toxic PFAS

PEERMail | Positive Trend for Whistleblowers

Positive Trend for Whistleblowers Protecting whistleblowers is at the core of PEER’s work.  That is why we are ...

Comment – Candidates for SACC – 3-1-2024 (PDF)

DESCRIPTION: Written comments to EPA regarding candidates under consideration for appointment to the Science ...

Remove Forever Chemicals from Biosolid Fertilizers

PFAS Absorbed in Plants Are Major Exposure Pathway into our Food Chain

PEERMail | PEER Sues EPA to Uncover Toxic Health and Safety Data

One of the most important things we do is sue government agencies when they refuse to release important ...

PFAS in Biosolids Fertilizer Sparks Damages Lawsuit

Suit Charges Fertilizer Maker Synagro with Poisoning Farms and Livestock

Texas Farms Poisoned by PFAS-Laden Biosolid Fertilizers

Johnson County Holds Hearing to Warn Citizens About Synagro’s Biosolids

EPA Conceals PFAS Health Info as Trade Secret

Lawsuit Demands Release of Data on PFAS in Fluorinated Containers

PEERMail | A Surprising Victory on Toxic Plastics

In a surprise victory on toxic plastics containing PFAS, EPA ordered a company named Inhance to stop producing ...

PEER and CEH Applaud EPA’s Decision to Protect People from PFAS that Leach from Plastic Containers

EPA Orders Inhance Technologies to Stop Exposing Millions of Americans to Dangerous PFAS in Fluorinated Plastic ...

One Woman’s War Against ‘Forever Chemicals’

Dr. Kyla Bennett is featured in the short documentary from Bloomberg Originals on the dangerous conundrum of the ...

COMMENTARY | Artificial Turf – A Plague on the Earth

Like a nasty rash, artificial turf has spread beyond sports fields to urban lawns, schoolyards, and parks.

REPORT | “Forever Chemicals” Disposal Is Creating a Health Nightmare (PDF)

New data compiled by EPA depicts a vast, uncontrolled, and spreading web of unregulated disposal of PFAS waste.

“Forever Chemicals” Disposal is Creating a Health Nightmare

EPA is Failing to Control Spreading Web of PFAS Waste

Water Board Still in Dark About Santa Susana Discharges

Staff Withholding Documents on PCB Poisoning of LA River on Eve of Vote

PEERMail | An Epic Journey You Won’t Want to Miss

Bloomberg Businessweek featured an epic quest by our Science Policy Director to uncover why her town’s drinking ...

COMMENTARY | Why the Chilling Fight Behind Climate Change?

This country cannot be locked into a new generation of toxic refrigerants, many of which have significant global ...

PFAS at Santa Susana Seep Through Regulatory Cracks

Toxic Forever Chemicals Not Monitored in Discharge or Included in Cleanup

Webinar | The Local Fight Against PFAS Contamination

Learn how community leaders in Nantucket are working to educate their community about PFAS and make actionable change.

Presentation for Engineering Technologies Summit 2023 – PFAS and Refrigerants – 08-28-2023 (PDF)

Presentation on PFAS and Refrigerants: A Rapidly Evolving Legal and Liability Landscape for Engineering ...
Phone: 202-265-7337

962 Wayne Avenue, Suite 610
Silver Spring, MD 20910-4453

Copyright 2001–2024 Public Employees for
Environmental Responsibility

PEER is a 501(c)(3) organization
EIN: 93-1102740