A DFLEC forum on PFAS, recorded on September 28th, at 6:30 PM on Zooom

The term “PFAS” refers to a large class of synthetic chemicals that include perflourooctanoic acid, perfluorooctane sulonate, “GenX”, and a host of others. The US EPA lists over 8,000 of them. Ultimately, these chemicals are used in the production of stain repellents, polishes, paints, and other coatings. They are something of a wonder molecule, with amazing properties and many uses. Unfortunately, there are also health and environmental concerns. They are linked, sometimes more clearly, sometimes less, to a wide range of health issues. They are also persistent in the environment, thus the nickname “forever chemicals.”

PFAS…

• In everything—food packaging, goretex, firefighting foam, carpet, fabrics in car, nonstick cookware,
• All over the planet—in polar bears, in us, in our water supply, in fish, in bald eagles.
• All over the state: problems in Pine Island, Bemidji, Duluth, east metro

This problem is most publicized in the Twin Cities East metro where these chemicals contaminate groundwater used by over 100,000 people. You may have read about the recent $850 million settlement with 3M for landfill dumping, which included:

• $700 M for new municipal wells, treatment, POETs
• $20 M for natural resource impacts
• $30 M for interim projects already funded
• $100 M went to the lawyers

As we learn more about health impacts of PFAS, the acceptable limit keeps getting reduced; settlement treats to half of the current HBV (health-based value)

Our guests for the forum:

Jay Eidsness: Health Effects and Pathways to the Environment

• Companies continue to release new chemicals (PFOA and PFOS are gone, but replaced with others that have lesser-known impacts)
• Action item: strengthen disclosure requirements for manufacturers to aid our state regulators in identifying these chemicals in the environment. According to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, current detection and testing methods only detect around 1% of PFAS, which is troubling. I think we can all agree that something needs to be done to increase this number.

Representative Ami Waslawik: Food Packaging Legislation from 2021

• Future legislation?
• What do we need?
• What could pass?