As the world sharpens its focus on environmental health and chemical safety, the PFAS industry is entering a pivotal phase. Spring 2025 marks a season of accelerated regulatory change, innovation in remediation and treatment technologies, and increasing pressure on manufacturers to eliminate PFAS from supply chains. With diverging policies at the federal and state levels in the U.S., sweeping international restrictions, including new PFAS regulations in Canada, and a booming market for PFAS alternatives and remediation solutions, stakeholders across sectors must adapt quickly to remain compliant and competitive.
This edition brings you the latest developments shaping the PFAS landscape including legislative and regulatory updates and a review of the latest PFAS treatment technologies.
SGS Updates: TFSI & More!
SGS North America has added its 10th PFAS laboratory to its network of environmental laboratories in North America. The SGS Houston lab location is bringing OTM-50 online and will be ready to perform sample analysis by the end of Q2. Additionally, SGS Houston is developing a thermal desorption (TD) tube analytical method to capture select fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOHs).
We’re proud to be featured in the latest U.S. EPA study from the 2018–2019 National Rivers and Streams Assessment (NRSA). The study reveals interesting changes in PFAS body burdens in fish with levels of critical PFAS like PFOS dropping over time, but with 90% of fish tested showing detectable levels. Our expert team at SGS supported this research through the analysis of fish tissue samples using a PFAS method that was the basis of EPA 1633. Our nearly 25 years’ worth of PFAS experience, has provided a continuity of best practices around isotope dilution, careful fish homogenization and more. This project is a great example of long-term longitudinal monitoring by governmental agencies and we’re proud to have played a part.
For more information on how these updates impact you, contact our experts today.
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
Administrator Zeldin Announces Major EPA Actions to Combat PFAS Contamination | US EPA
WASHINGTON – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin outlined upcoming agency action to address Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS). In this suite of actions, Administrator Zeldin announced a long list that included in part the designation of an agency lead for PFAS, the creation of effluent limitations guidelines (ELGs) for certain PFAS to stop these forever chemicals from entering drinking water systems, and initiatives to engage with Congress and industry to establish a clear liability framework that ensures the polluter pays and passive receivers are protected.
The PFAS Drinking Water Rule Under the Second Trump Administration | Holland & Knight LLP – JDSupra
Major trade associations and water systems filed suit to challenge the Biden-era U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) National Primary Drinking Water Rule for six per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) under the Safe Drinking Water Act.
How PFAS regulations have changed in the Trump administration, so far | WaterWorld
Much of what took place under the Biden administration is likely to be scrutinized by the new Trump administration. Regarding PFAS regulations in water and wastewater, here’s what we know.
US News by State
National
New legislation could ban use of PFAS in firefighting gear
SPRINGFIELD, Ill (WICS) — New legislation could ban the use of harmful chemicals in firefighter gear. Firefighters said while they’re braving dangerous conditions. Having safe equipment means one less thing to worry about.
Paper receipts from major retailers in the US are so laden with bisphenol S that holding one for 10 seconds can cause the skin to absorb enough of the highly toxic chemical to violate California’s safety threshold, new research has found.
Local News
Rhode Island
PFAS Ban Extended To Include More Products | News | newportvermontdailyexpress.com
NEWPORT CITY- A bill passed in the last legislative session (Act 131) regulates the use of the PFAS family of chemicals. Scientific studies have found high concentrations of PFAS have an environmental impact and are linked to medical problems in humans and other animals. This year the legislation is being examined with the intention of adding more products to be regulated for levels of PFAS.
Minnesota
Minnesota county landfill using new system to filter pure water from toxic leachate
Thanks to a first-of-its-kind system in the United States, a western Minnesota county says it has kept PFAS and other contaminants from getting into the environment. Greg Ackerson, of Apex Water Solutions, says the Kandiyohi County Sanitary Landfill is “full of carcinogens, heavy metals, toxins, PFAS and hundreds of contaminate concerns.”
State issues new warning about eating fish from some Minnesota lakes, rivers
The Minnesota Department of Health has updated its advice on how much fish is safe to eat from certain lakes with PFAS exposure. The chemical has been found in fish from some bodies of water in 10 Minnesota counties: Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Douglas, Hennepin, Martin, McLeod, Ramsey, St. Louis and Washington.
New Mexico
New Mexico governor signs 2 laws banning PFAS | Waste Dive
The newly signed laws ban PFAS in most products and designate PFAS-containing firefighting foam as a hazardous waste, a move to more tightly regulate PFAS cleanup. New Mexico has designated specific types of PFAS-containing firefighting foam as hazardous waste and has banned most products containing intentionally added PFAS. The two new laws are part of a bill package Gov. Michjelle Lujan Grisham signed into law on Tuesday.
Florida
Forever chemicals, orper- and poly-fluoroalkyl (PFAS), are synthetic chemicals developed in the 1940s and used in a variety of applications across the world. These substances are highly resistant to temperatures, water, and oil, making them ideal for non-stick cookware, stain-resistant fabric, and firefighting foams and equipment. Although efficient, it was only in 2000 that the actual effect of these substances on human health was understood.
Michigan
Wexford County Airport water well tests reveal alarming PFAS levels
WEXFORD COUNTY, Mich. (WPBN/WGTU) — Wexford County Airport’s water well has tested positive for PFAS contamination significantly above state and federal standards, according to Haring Township Deputy Supervisor Susan Giftos. The decision to test the wells came after concerns about growing contamination issues in the township.
Washington
Vancouver water test results for PFAS a mixed bag – The Columbian
Some results see decline in forever chemicals, while others hold steady or increase. Recent water test results from the city of Vancouver show levels for some PFAS, also known as forever chemicals, have decreased while others have remained steady or increased. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances — PFAS — are a large group of chemicals that includes perfluorooctane sulfonate, or PFOS, perfluorooctanoic acid, PFOA, perfluorononanoic acid, PFNA, and perfluorohexane sulfonate, or PFHxS, all of which have been detected in humans.
Wisconsin
Susan Crawford’s Wisconsin Supreme Court win could be a win for PFAS | Great Lakes Now
On Tuesday, April 1, Susan Crawford won Wisconsin’s contentious Supreme Court election. The Wisconsin high court is currently considering a case about the enforcement of the state’s 1978 Spill Law, that requires people or companies who are discharging hazardous waste to minimize harmful effects. According to reporting from Wisconsin Watch, the lawsuit filed in 2021 by Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC) — the state’s most powerful business lobby — argues that the Department of Natural Resources cannot require people to test and then remediate PFAS since the agency had not yet formally designated the chemicals as “hazardous substances.”
Canada
West Nipissing plans PFAS testing for ‘peace of mind’ – North Bay News
‘For a thousand dollars, if it gives peace of mind, and eliminates any kind of thought that there would be an issue, I believe it’s worth it,’ Councillor Kris Rivard said.
Global News
Growing concerns over UK’s ‘forever chemicals’; cost of clean-up may top US$12b a year – CNA
Birmingham: Concerns are growing in Britain over toxic so-called “forever chemicals” in the environment, and the spiraling cost of potential clean-up efforts. Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) – which can be found in a wide variety of products such as non-stick pans, waterproof coats, and makeup – have leached into the natural environment and are almost indestructible without human intervention.
Toxic Chemicals Found in Backyard Eggs, Dutch Health Agency Warns
Backyard chickens are a common sight in many Dutch neighborhoods. People enjoy collecting fresh eggs and the sense of self-sufficiency that comes with it. But now, that simple pleasure may carry serious health risks. A Dutch health agency has issued a warning that eating eggs from backyard chickens could be dangerous.
Japan’s Environment Ministry mulls target level for PFAS in discharged water | NHK WORLD-JAPAN News
The Japanese government is considering treating its provisional drinking water target as a benchmark for the level of potentially harmful PFAS chemicals in discharged water. This comes as the US military’s Yokota Air Base in western Tokyo informed Japanese authorities of its plan to release water containing the chemicals after decontaminating it.
