New York State lawmakers are advancing efforts to regulate forever chemicals in the state.
Along with a bill enacting a moratorium on using biosolids as farm fertilizer, the legislature is considering several bills to remove PFAS from various consumer products. These include beauty products, dental floss, and other household items.
Kate Donovan, northeast regional director for environmental health for the Natural Resources Defense Council, explained that the chemicals became common because, despite their health impacts, they were sold as a consumer convenience.
“The manufacturers of these chemicals, DuPont and 3M, they knew for a very long time that these were dangerous, toxic chemicals, but never reported it and kept it secret,” said Donovan. “So, it allowed these chemicals to continue to be produced for decades and to be put into the marketplace without a lot of knowledge about its health concerns.”
The health impacts range from increased risk of certain cancers to developmental effects in children. Donovan said some of the most significant opposition is from non-stick cookware companies who argue the Teflon they use is safe, though data shows otherwise.
While the State Senate passed two bills regarding PFAS this month, Donovan noted that getting them through the Assembly is a challenge.
New York passed legislation to ban PFAS in clothing, firefighting foam, and food packaging in the last few years. But, some companies are voluntarily removing these chemicals from their products.
Donovan said reports show the state will pay high health care costs from PFAS at a time when money is dwindling.
“A conservative estimate,” said Donovan,” was between $2.7 and $4.4 billion dollars, the state is expected to spend on health care related to PFAS contamination.”
Reports show half of all the state’s water systems have some levels of PFAS, with more than 250 local waterways exceeding state-regulated levels of forever chemicals.
Edwin is a reporter and producer in North Tonawanda, New York. He’s previously reported for the Niagara Gazette and the Ithaca Times. Edwin got an early start in radio interning for WBFO-88.7FM, NPR’s Buffalo affiliate. In 2018, he graduated from SUNY Buffalo State College with a B.A. in Journalism, and in 2022, graduated from Syracuse University with an M.S. in Communications.