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EPA has failed to protect consumers from PFAS-laced containers, lawsuit alleges
US regulators have failed to protect the public from millions of plastic containers that contain toxic PFAS chemicals, which can leach into pesticides, condiments, household cleaners, and many other products, alleges a lawsuit filed this week by environmental groups.
The lawsuit, filed Thursday in the US District Court for the District of Columbia, alleges that the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) violated the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) by neglecting to demand that manufacturers stop making containers using a fluorination process that results in per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
When the EPA proposed drinking water regulations for six PFAS chemicals in March 2023, the agency stated it had determined there is no safe level of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), and that this type of PFAS is likely to cause cancer. Under the TSCA, the agency had six months to start addressing PFOA’s presence in plastic containers but failed to do so, allege the Center for Environmental Health (CEH) and Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER).
“EPA’s failure to protect the public from exposures to toxic PFOA in their daily lives is inexcusable and reflects a severe leadership deficit at the agency,” said Kyla Bennett, science policy director for PEER, in a statement.
The EPA declined to comment, citing pending litigation.
PFOA is one of thousands of PFAS chemicals, which do not break down naturally in the environment and are found in the blood of most Americans. PFAS are in many everyday products, including nonstick cookware, dental floss, rain gear, and makeup.
A study published this week found that fluorinated plastic containers are a major pathway by which so-called “forever chemicals” unintentionally wind up in pesticide products.
The Texas-based company Inhance Technologies is the only US company to use a fluorination process that results in the formation of PFAS, producing about 200 million plastic containers with the technique each year. In addition to PFOA, twelve other PFAS chemicals have been detected in Inhance’s containers.
Last December, the EPA ordered Inhance to stop producing PFAS when it manufactures its containers, but in March a US appeals court blocked the order, ruling that the EPA had exceeded its statutory authority. The EPA did not appeal the ruling, withdrawing its enforcement action.
“Since the order never took effect, formation of PFOA during fluorination has continued without any restriction and millions of people remain exposed to the serious health risks of PFOA-contaminated plastic containers,” states the complaint.
Earlier this month, the EPA granted a petition filed by CEH, PEER, and other environmental groups calling for the agency to address PFOA in plastic containers, as well as perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) and perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA). The agency stated that it would promptly initiate a TSCA proceeding to initiate a rulemaking on these PFAS chemicals in plastic containers.
“The EPA intends to request information, including the number, location, and uses of fluorinated containers in the United States; alternatives to the fluorination process that generates PFOA, PFNA, and PFDA; and measures to address risk from PFOA, PFNA, and PFDA formed during the fluorination of plastic containers,” said Michal Freedhoff, EPA’s Assistant Administrator of the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention.
The announcement did not include a timeline for the rulemaking or immediate measures to protect the public, said PEER in its statement.
(Featured image via Unsplash+ in collaboration with Mathilde Langevin.)
August 5, 2024 @ 2:07 pm
Don’t forget about cutting back our carbon footprint. (and all that entails, including reduce, refuse, reuse, recycle, compost—when you can safely, & living as simply as possible, cutting back on excess, downsizing, etc . . .).
I’m trying, but I think we could do more to encourage others around the world. Including setting a good example ourselves. I’m not sure Trump did the wrong thing. I was not in favor of the Paris Agreement for my own reasons, and I am a tree hugger. I also love this planet & all in it. but the nuclear option could blow it for all of us. (making it worse than it could ever get—because nuclear energy is very dangerous) I sometimes wonder about people who are pushing for the nuclear option. Do they just not know the past mishaps? do they have too much trust in humanity? do they not think of terrorism or other such deeds? Not to mention natural disasters?, etc . . . I think that was a mistake. It, nuclear energy, should not have been included in the answer to our problems. & I worry that this is buried in this Green New Deal as well.
Another problem is that Haste Makes Waste & many times in our urgency to do good we move too fast for our own good & the good of others. Someone may suffer as a result & there may be no quick remedies before much suffering by many. So we need to take it slow by testing small areas first & then progressing, realizing that some things will not show up right away. But the first steps above could start earlier. But in any case we need to realize that we may need to make changes for the best of all.
Happy Summer!
This is the best time to realize that all people, animals, beings/creatures, spirits, etc . . . dwell in the same space: Earth. We are all above, below, on and or in the earth. It is the home of us all & we all need each other whether we know it or not. We should make all plans keeping the future of all in mind. We are all connected, so what we do in one part of the world will eventually get to another.
& I am with you in praying for the president & that he & his team will realize our wishes & understand they are for his benefit as well as the benefit for everyone else in the long run.
If you’d like, you could pass on my wishes to him as well.
Take care & God Bless All . . .
August 4, 2024 @ 10:36 pm
No brainer protect people from forever cancers.
August 4, 2024 @ 10:35 pm
No brainer protect people from forever causer.
August 4, 2024 @ 1:49 pm
Think planet, people and NOT profit…… Ban the use of PFAS chemicals in the making of plastic containers.
July 31, 2024 @ 1:27 pm
Please findout why any government in any country will not begin construction on self water making centers as the world and it’s farms desperately need.