It’s officially summertime and PFAS news continues to grab headlines around the country. SGS is proud to have provided testing highlighted in a recently published USGS study on the Potomac River as well as a San Francisco Estuary Institute publication on bay area fish testing co-authored by one of our own. A recent book highlighting PFAS contamination around Hoosick Falls, NY, also mentions AXYS (SGS) early role in providing blood testing for workers and community residents. Read on to learn more about these stories and many other PFAS updates from around the country and the world.
SGS Updates:
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is considering new guidance that will significantly impact marine firefighting foam use.
Within the next few months, ships cannot carry AFFF containing more than 10 mg/kg of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid, or PFOS. By January 1, 2026, all new ships and existing vessels must comply with the limit.
So, what does this mean for the maritime industry, ship operators, and environmental professionals?
Learn all about it in our next webinar: “PFOS Compliance in Marine AFFF: What You Need to Know” – July 17, 1:00 pm ET. Register here!
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
EPA Announces Proposed Registration of Pesticide Trifludimoxazin
This month, the Environmental Protection Agency proposed to approve the pesticide trifludimoxazin which by some definitions would be considered a PFAS, or perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances. While the agency did not find any human health or ecological risk when the pesticide is used as directed, it did acknowledge potential risks when co-formulated with another fluorinated herbicide saflufenacil.
US News by State
National
The Potomac River is a major watershed in the eastern United States that serves as a crucial water supply for millions of people. USGS researchers conducted a comprehensive investigation to identify the contributions of municipal and industrial wastewater treatment plant effluent to the levels of PFAS in the Potomac River. This study included measuring PFAS levels through sampling, analyzing their potential sources, creating models to understand how water flows and how people and wildlife may be exposed, and assessing health risks to both humans and the environment.
PFAS exposure before birth could put your teen at risk for high blood pressure, study finds
PFAS — sometimes called “forever chemicals” because many don’t fully break down in the environment — are a class of about 15,000 human-made chemicals linked to cancers, endocrine-related conditions and developmental problems in children.
New data shows the synthetic compounds could also be linked to a teen’s risk of developing cardiovascular disease later in life, according to the study published Thursday in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
They Poisoned the World by Mariah Blake: 9781524760090 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books
This book details the history of Hoosick Falls, NY, and how this small community became one of several towns impacted by PFAS contamination. One common thread amongst these towns’ stories was the ability to monitor levels of PFAS in the blood of residents to begin to understand their exposure and how it might relate to the health effects they were experiencing. AXYS Analytical (now SGS) was integral early on in assessing PFAS concentrations of impacted workers and their families.
Local News
California
“Forever Chemicals” Found In Fish Through Most of Bay | San Francisco Estuary Institute
A team of SFEI scientists tested fish samples collected throughout the Bay since 2009 for PFAS. The research detected 20 types of these “forever chemicals” in total, including one never documented before in marine fish.
The journal article co-authored by Dr. Richard Grace of SGS can be found here.
Colorado
State updates fish advisories | Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment updated its fish consumption advisories for mercury and added location-specific advisories for PFOS). These updates are based on the latest scientific findings and data and they aim to better protect the public’s health.
Pennsylvania
‘Forever chemicals’ detected in 65% of sampled private wells in Pennsylvania
In Pennsylvania, 3.5 million people are served by private well systems, according to Penn State Extension. To better understand potential contamination of the groundwater feeding these systems, a team of researchers from Penn State conducted a novel three-year citizen science study of PFAS in 167 private wells across Pennsylvania. Their study, available online and scheduled for publication in the July issue of the Journal of Environmental Management, revealed that 18%, or 30 out of 167, of private wells sampled exceeded maximum contaminant levels for drinking water set by the U.S.
Rhode Island
East Providence becomes first in US to implement PFAS-free turnout gear
The East Providence Fire Department in Rhode Island has become the first in the United States to outfit all firefighters with turnout gear free of PFAS.
The department received 170 sets of gear, providing each of its 125 full-time firefighters with one full new set.
Maryland
Hampstead officials have been monitoring unsafe levels of PFAS in the town’s well water for several years now, but soon hope to begin construction on a long-sought solution.
The Board of Public Works on Wednesday approved a $19.5 million appropriation for Hampstead, which is embarked on a $31 million project to build granular activated carbon filters around town that will remove the contaminant from the drinking water. The project also includes pipelines to deliver the water for treatment and the possibility of upgrading one filtering site to nitrate treatment in the future.
A report highlights the ongoing stress to the Chesapeake Bay Watershed from pollutants, particularly pesticides. The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the contiguous United States, with tributaries shared among six states and the District of Columbia. It receives runoff from nine major river systems traversing a wide mix of land uses, with significant agricultural and urban areas nearest the Bay and forest along the western boundary. Nearly 13 million people get their drinking water from the watershed.
The watershed report by the Maryland Pesticide Education Network focuses primarily on the herbicide atrazine, the neonicotinoid insecticide thiamethoxam, and PFAS.
Michigan
Michigan triples ‘do not eat’ fish warnings as PFAS contamination concerns rise
New, more stringent PFAS guidelines in Michigan have nearly tripled “do not eat” advisories for fish in the state’s waterways, from 33 to 98 bodies of water. While environmentalists welcome the updated warnings, they also stress the need to prevent further contamination of the state’s water sources, according to Bridge Michigan.
Canada News
London’s airport is among Canada’s hotspots for ‘forever chemicals’ | CBC News
The property where London’s airport is located is among scores of locations in Canada being monitored for the presence of so-called “forever chemicals,” which can pose a threat to human health through groundwater contamination.
Based on information Transport Canada has posted on its website about the London airport site, more than $1.8 million has been spent on remediation of the site stretching back to 2006. The online listing describes London’s airport site as a “high priority for action.”
Global News
‘Forever chemical’ found in all but one of tested UK rivers
A chemical that scientists worry might have an impact on human reproduction has been found in rivers across the UK. Researchers from York University analysed samples from 32 rivers in all the UK’s 4 nations and found traces of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) at 98% of the test locations.
