Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) and Health Canada have released a comprehensive report on the “State of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS).” This report highlights the significant risks that PFAS—commonly referred to as “forever chemicals”—pose to human health and the environment. It provides a qualitative assessment of PFAS sources, fate, occurrence, and potential impacts, ultimately concluding that PFAS, excluding fluoropolymers, are toxic under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA). The biggest takeaway for us from this comprehensive assessment is that small-molecule PFAS are being addressed as a class!
Key Findings from the Report
The report highlights several critical aspects of PFAS contamination and management, including:
- Widespread Use and Environmental Presence: PFAS have been extensively used in products such as food packaging, cosmetics, textiles, and firefighting foams. Their broad application has led to co-occurrence and pervasive distribution in the environment.
- Extreme Environmental Persistence: PFAS exhibit long-range transport properties, making them highly persistent in ecosystems and resulting in prolonged exposure for both humans and wildlife.
- Bioaccumulation and Health Risks: Several well-studied PFAS have demonstrated bioaccumulation potential and are linked to adverse health effects in humans and various organisms.
- Cumulative Exposure Concerns: The potential for cumulative effects due to co-exposure to unknown mixtures of PFAS is a growing concern, reinforcing the need for a broader regulatory approach.
- Challenges in Remediation: Environmental contamination by PFAS is difficult to reverse, and without intervention, contamination levels will continue to rise.
- Complex Chemicals Management: Due to the vast number of PFAS compounds and their diverse applications, regulatory management presents significant challenges.
While research has historically focused on a limited number of well-known PFAS, emerging evidence suggests that concerns identified for these compounds extend to a broader range of PFAS. Given these findings, the report advocates for a precautionary, class-based regulatory approach to mitigate anticipated adverse effects on public health and the environment.
SGS: Leading the Way in PFAS Expertise
At SGS, we recognize the growing regulatory focus on PFAS and the challenges industries face in monitoring and mitigating contamination. Our comprehensive PFAS testing and analysis services support businesses in navigating evolving regulations, ensuring compliance, and protecting environmental and human health. The focus on PFAS as a class means that we need more than targeted methods for specific PFAS to tackle this enormous testing challenge. Our comprehensive portfolio includes organic fluorine methods, the total oxidizable precursor assay (TOP), and upcoming non-target analysis (NTA) to address the wide world of PFAS beyond the 40 in EPA 1633.
With in-depth knowledge of the Canadian PFAS regulatory landscape and a team of local experts ready to guide businesses through compliance and challenges, SGS provides reliable data and trusted expertise to help organizations make informed decisions.
Contact our expert PFAS team today at PFAS@sgs.com
