The Problem With PFAS: Contamination and Updates

Championing Your Right to a Safe Environment! Clean water is essential for our health, but unfortunately, pollution remains a significant issue in the U.S. Harmful substances like PFAS can contaminate our water supply from various sources, posing serious health risks.

What are PFAS? 

PFAS are a family of human-made chemicals with strong water- and oil-repellant properties. They have been widely used in non-stick, stain-resistant, and water-repellant coatings on fabric, upholstery, carpeting, non-stick cookware, firefighting foam, and many other products. Experts call them “forever chemicals” because they don’t break down in the environment and accumulate in the human body over time, potentially leading to various health problems.

Latest On The List

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has added nine new PFAS chemicals to its Toxics Release Inventory (TRI). This requires companies producing these chemicals in large quantities to report their annual environmental releases. These additions, mandated by the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act, aim to provide communities with essential information about local chemical releases.

The newly added PFAS include ammonium perfluorodecanoate, sodium perfluorodecanoate, perfluoro-3-methoxypropanoic acid, and several 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonate compounds. With these additions, there are now 205 PFAS listed in the TRI.

PFAS In The News

Mohawk Industries Inc., along with Mohawk Carpet LLC and Aladdin Manufacturing Corp., filed a lawsuit against PFAS manufacturers 3M Co., E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Co., The Chemours Co., and Daikin America Inc. after facing many problems due to PFAS contamination from products like Stainmaster and Scotchgard in Dalton, Georgia. Water utilities in Alabama are also dealing with high costs to remove PFAS from their water. Mohawk claims that these manufacturers did not properly warn about the dangers of PFAS and how to handle wastewater safely. They are asking for compensation to cover past and future costs related to the PFAS contamination.

Combatting the Chemicals

At Beasley Allen, we’re here to help. We’re part of a larger effort to hold PFAS manufacturers accountable for contaminating drinking water and affecting the health of nearly everyone on Earth.

Our mission is to protect individuals, communities, and local governments from the dangers of toxic chemicals and environmental pollution. We work tirelessly, conducting thorough investigations and collaborating with experts to build strong cases. With our extensive experience, we’ve secured significant settlements and verdicts for our clients. Contact us today for a free case evaluation and let us help you fight for a safer environment.