SGS PFAS Academy Newsletter

January brought about a couple of interesting developments for PFAS in the U.S., most notably with the long-awaited draft risk assessment for sewage sludge from USEPA.  This provides guidance to state, municipal, and tribal regulatory agencies for evaluating the risk associated with PFOA and PFOS in sludge, particularly when it comes to land application for agriculture.  Also, nine more PFAS were added to the Toxics Release Inventory list for manufacturers and industries that use PFAS in their products.  Also, we saw one of the most restrictive bans on PFAS-containing products go into effect in Minnesota.  Next month, we’ll be talking about the new requirement from the state of Wisconsin that all regulated entities must utilize Method 1633A. Talking of 1633A, the government has reposted the method update rule (MUR) on January 21 adding EPA 1633A, 1621 and other methods with a comments period ending February 20, 2025.

SGS Updates: New PFAS labs, microplastics and more! 

Here at SGS, we added to our family of laboratories yet again. After the recent addition of Katahdin Analytical near Portland, Maine, we are also now welcoming RTI Laboratories to the SGS family! They are located near Detroit, Michigan. Both laboratories bring exceptional PFAS capabilities and reputation for quality data, with RTI also bringing on unique capabilities on microplastics and.  This brings our number of laboratories with PFAS capabilities to seven in North America, soon to be nine. Stay tuned!

Click on SGS PFAS/emerging contaminants analysis capabilities, and see why SGS delivers what you need every step of way.

US Policy News 

Draft Sewage Sludge Risk Assessment for Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctane Sulfonic Acid (PFOS) 

On January 14, 2025, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released the Draft Sewage Sludge Risk Assessment for Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctane Sulfonic Acid (PFOS) for public comment. The draft risk assessment reflects the agency’s latest scientific understanding of the potential risks to human health and the environment posed by the presence of PFOA and PFOS in sewage sludge that is land applied as a soil conditioner or fertilizer (on agricultural, forested, and other lands), surface disposed (e.g., placed in a sewage sludge-only landfill called a monofill), or incinerated. 

EPA Adds Nine Additional PFAS to the Toxics Release Inventory 

In January, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the automatic addition of nine per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances to the list of chemicals covered by the Toxics Release Inventory. These nine PFAS were added to the TRI list pursuant to the Fiscal Year 2020 National Defense Authorization Act, which provides the framework for the automatic addition of PFAS to TRI each year in response to specified EPA activities involving such PFAS. For TRI Reporting Year 2025 (reporting forms due by July 1, 2026), reporting is required for these nine additional PFAS, bringing the total PFAS subject to TRI reporting to 205. 

Federal Register:: Clean Water Act Methods Update Rule 22 for the Analysis of Contaminants in Effluent 

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to promulgate new methods and update the tables of approved methods for the Clean Water Act. The Clean Water Act requires the EPA to promulgate test procedures for the analysis of pollutants. In this rule, the EPA proposes to add new EPA methods for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners, and add methods previously published by voluntary consensus bodies that industries and municipalities would use for reporting under the EPA’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit program. The EPA also proposes to withdraw the seven Aroclor (PCB mixtures) parameters. In addition, the EPA is proposing to simplify the sampling requirements for two volatile organic compounds, and make a series of minor corrections to existing tables of approved methods.  

US News by State 

National 

EPA details health risks from PFAS at farms 

Food produced on farms whose land was contaminated with toxic “forever chemicals” may have health risks, according to a new draft report from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The report from the EPA is focused on risks to those who live near impacted farms or who otherwise rely primarily on their products rather than for the general public. 

California 

California Makes History With Country’s First PFAS Ban for Apparel 

California made history on Jan. 1, 2025, with the country’s first statewide ban on PFAS in clothing and other textile products. The California Safer Clothes and Textiles Act of 2022 (AB 1817) bars the manufacturing, sale and distribution of new fabric products-from clothing to accessories, footwear, bedding, upholstery, shower curtains, tablecloths, towels and more-made with regulated perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances. 

Minnesota  

2025 PFAS prohibitions  

Starting on Jan. 1, 2025, the first prohibitions of products containing intentionally added PFAS under Amara’s Law (Minn. Stat. § 116.943) will take effect in Minnesota. Intentionally added PFAS will be prohibited in products that fall under 11 categories. 

Minnesota PFAS ban: Nonstick pan makers challenge new law 

A cookware group is suing the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency over the new law banning PFAS in cookware, claiming it’s unconstitutional. The law states that starting on Jan. 1, 11 categories of products containing intentionally added PFAS may not be sold or distributed in Minnesota, including cookware. 

Maine 

PFAS contamination found on more than 100 Maine farms 

With their multiyear investigation not yet halfway complete, Maine state inspectors have identified more than 100 Maine farms and 500 residential properties contaminated by the harmful forever chemicals left behind by sludge-based fertilizer use.  

New Hampshire 

EPA reports PFAS chemicals cleanup at Pease makes progress 

The Environmental Protection Agency has released its five-year review of ongoing clean-up efforts at the former Pease Air Force Base. The review was conducted by the Air Force Civil Engineer Center (AFCEC), and marks the sixth, five-year review of the former Air Force base, now Pease International Tradeport and home to an airport, many businesses and the New Hampshire Air National Guard. It is located in parts of Portsmouth, Newington and Greenland. 

Canada News 

Canadian regulators lag behind U.S. after harmful ‘forever chemicals’ found in fertilizer, say experts 

A U.S. government study warning of potentially dangerous levels of “forever chemicals” in sewage sludge sold as fertilizer is raising concern among some experts in Canada, who say more needs to be done to ensure application of the material isn’t contaminating the environment and harming people. 

Global News 

PFAS: The Cost of Inaction 

As Europe begins to realize the scale of its poisoning by these toxic and ultra-resistant chemical substances produced by industry, Le Monde and 29 media partners have, for the first time, calculated the price of decontamination. 

EU expected to propose PFAS ban on consumer products in 2026 

The PFAS ban, which EU Environment Commissioner Jessika Roswall told Reuters in a recent interview, could come with certain allowances for critical industry applications. The EU’s draft for this regulation is not anticipated to be finalized until next year at the earliest due to the need to define what constitutes “essential” exceptions, Roswall noted.