Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class consisting of thousands of chemicals that have been used in a variety of products, most notably fire suppression systems. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) have been the most extensively produced and studied of these chemicals. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), there is some evidence that exposure to PFAS can lead to adverse health outcomes in humans.
Given such health concerns and the detection of PFAS in drinking water supplies, the EPA, several U.S. states and Congress are developing groundwater, wastewater and other restrictions that limit the release of PFAS into the environment. A summary containing the basic information on PFAS developed to date, including exposure routes, health effects, research, actions by EPA, state action and information resources, and other tools and resources is provided by EPA and may be found at https://www.epa.gov/pfas. Additional information on PFAS news, federal and state regulatory/legislative activities and additional resources may be found at https://www.clarkhill.com/contents/pfas-issues.
PFAS and PFOA products have been used in a variety of products since the 1950s and 1960s, including some stains, water resistant and protective coatings, as well as firefighting foams and many other products. While PFAS characteristically impart oil and water repellency, temperature resistance, and friction reduction, these compounds are also mobile, persistent, and bioaccumulative; and do not readily degrade in the environment. Recent analytical techniques with lower limits of detection have found PFAS at low levels in blood, groundwater and surface water throughout the world.
Coatings manufacturing facilities that have either formulated products with PFAS or utilized PFAS-based firefighting foams in their facilities may want to consider analyzing their operations, current or historical, since they may potentially be faced with more stringent wastewater discharge limits, increased cost associated with PFAS fire suppression foam disposal (wastes generated from fire suppression testing and/or replacement wastes), and possible groundwater cleanup requirements. Please note that the disposal of PFAS fire suppression wastes can be expensive, especially if the waste is disposed through incineration, which many advise to be the current best management practice.
Companies should also consider incorporating targeted PFAS due diligence as part of future mergers and acquisitions.
ACA, through its Product Stewardship and Environmental Management Committees, is actively monitoring this issue.
As part of ACA’s member webinar series, on July 10 attorneys from Clark Hill, LLP led a webinar briefing on PFAS Business Risks and Impacts. ACA members may download and replay the webinar recording at https://www.paint.org/2019-member-webinar-series/#Prop65 using their ACA website login credentials.
Contact ACA’s Riaz Zaman or David Darling for more information.
The post Overview of Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) Environmental Issues appeared first on American Coatings Association.
from American Coatings Association https://www.paint.org/pfas-overview/
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