Latest news with #PFOS
The Hill
5 days ago
- Business
- The Hill
New Jersey says 3 chemical makers agree to ‘forever chemical' settlement worth up to $2 billion
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — DuPont and two other companies will pay New Jersey up to $2 billion to settle environmental claims stemming from PFAS, commonly referred to as 'forever chemicals,' the companies announced Monday. State Environmental Commissioner Shawn LaTourette said the deal with DuPont, Chemours and Corteva is the largest such settlement in the state's history. It calls for the companies to pay $875 million over 25 years and create a remediation fund of up $1.2 billion. The companies will split the costs under the deal, which must still be approved by the courts. PFAS, or perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a group of chemicals that have been around for decades and have now spread into the nation's air, water and soil. They are commonly referred to as 'forever chemicals.' DuPont said the settlement will resolve 'all pending environmental and other claims' for 'legacy' contamination claims at four sites where the companies operated in the state. It comes just months after the state said chemical manufacturer 3M has agreed to pay up $450 million to resolve lawsuits over natural resource contamination stemming from PFAS. 'Polluters who place profit above public well-being by releasing poisonous PFAS and other contamination in our State can expect to be held responsible to clean up their mess and fully compensate the State and its citizens for the precious natural resources they've damaged or destroyed,' LaTourette said. PFAS were manufactured by companies such as 3M, Chemours and others because they were incredibly useful. They helped eggs slide across non-stick frying pans, ensured that firefighting foam suffocates flames and helped clothes withstand rain and keep people dry. The chemicals resist breaking down, though, meaning they linger in the environment. Environmental activists say PFAS makers knew about the health harms of PFAS long before they were made public. The same attributes that make the chemicals so valuable – resistance to breakdown – make them hazardous to people. PFAS accumulate in the body, which is why the Environmental Protection Agency set their limits for drinking water at 4 parts per trillion for two common types — PFOA and PFOS — that are phased out of manufacturing but still are present in the environment.
San Francisco Chronicle
5 days ago
- Business
- San Francisco Chronicle
New Jersey says 3 chemical makers agree to 'forever chemical' settlement worth up to $2 billion
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — DuPont and two other companies will pay New Jersey up to $2 billion to settle environmental claims stemming from PFAS, commonly referred to as 'forever chemicals," the companies announced Monday. State Environmental Commissioner Shawn LaTourette said the deal with DuPont, Chemours and Corteva is the largest such settlement in the state's history. It calls for the companies to pay $875 million over 25 years and create a remediation fund of up $1.2 billion. The companies will split the costs under the deal, which must still be approved by the courts. PFAS, or perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a group of chemicals that have been around for decades and have now spread into the nation's air, water and soil. They are commonly referred to as 'forever chemicals.' DuPont said the settlement will resolve 'all pending environmental and other claims' for 'legacy" contamination claims at four sites where the companies operated in the state. It comes just months after the state said chemical manufacturer 3M has agreed to pay up $450 million to resolve lawsuits over natural resource contamination stemming from PFAS. "Polluters who place profit above public well-being by releasing poisonous PFAS and other contamination in our State can expect to be held responsible to clean up their mess and fully compensate the State and its citizens for the precious natural resources they've damaged or destroyed," LaTourette said. PFAS were manufactured by companies such as 3M, Chemours and others because they were incredibly useful. They helped eggs slide across non-stick frying pans, ensured that firefighting foam suffocates flames and helped clothes withstand rain and keep people dry. The chemicals resist breaking down, though, meaning they linger in the environment. Environmental activists say PFAS makers knew about the health harms of PFAS long before they were made public. The same attributes that make the chemicals so valuable – resistance to breakdown – make them hazardous to people. PFAS accumulate in the body, which is why the Environmental Protection Agency set their limits for drinking water at 4 parts per trillion for two common types — PFOA and PFOS — that are phased out of manufacturing but still are present in the environment.
Winnipeg Free Press
5 days ago
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
New Jersey says 3 chemical makers agree to ‘forever chemical' settlement worth up to $2 billion
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — DuPont and two other companies will pay New Jersey up to $2 billion to settle environmental claims stemming from PFAS, commonly referred to as 'forever chemicals,' the companies announced Monday. State Environmental Commissioner Shawn LaTourette said the deal with DuPont, Chemours and Corteva is the largest such settlement in the state's history. It calls for the companies to pay $875 million over 25 years and create a remediation fund of up $1.2 billion. The companies will split the costs under the deal, which must still be approved by the courts. PFAS, or perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a group of chemicals that have been around for decades and have now spread into the nation's air, water and soil. They are commonly referred to as 'forever chemicals.' DuPont said the settlement will resolve 'all pending environmental and other claims' for 'legacy' contamination claims at four sites where the companies operated in the state. It comes just months after the state said chemical manufacturer 3M has agreed to pay up $450 million to resolve lawsuits over natural resource contamination stemming from PFAS. 'Polluters who place profit above public well-being by releasing poisonous PFAS and other contamination in our State can expect to be held responsible to clean up their mess and fully compensate the State and its citizens for the precious natural resources they've damaged or destroyed,' LaTourette said. PFAS were manufactured by companies such as 3M, Chemours and others because they were incredibly useful. They helped eggs slide across non-stick frying pans, ensured that firefighting foam suffocates flames and helped clothes withstand rain and keep people dry. The chemicals resist breaking down, though, meaning they linger in the environment. Environmental activists say PFAS makers knew about the health harms of PFAS long before they were made public. The same attributes that make the chemicals so valuable – resistance to breakdown – make them hazardous to people. PFAS accumulate in the body, which is why the Environmental Protection Agency set their limits for drinking water at 4 parts per trillion for two common types — PFOA and PFOS — that are phased out of manufacturing but still are present in the environment.
Business Wire
01-08-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
SEKISUI CHEMICAL Achieves Progress in Creating PFAS-Free Pipes for Ultrapure Process Applications in the Manufacturing of Advanced Semiconductors
TOKYO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--SEKISUI CHEMICAL CO., LTD. (TOKYO: 4204) (President: Keita Kato; hereinafter 'SEKISUI CHEMICAL') announced that, in response to the global trend of tighter regulations regarding perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and growing demand for reducing environmental impact, the Urban Infrastructure & Environmental Products Company (President: Yoshiyuki Hirai) had been developing a new technology for PFAS-free pipe materials for ultrapure process applications in the manufacturing of advanced semiconductors. As a certain level of progress has been established in the development of this technology, SEKISUI CHEMICAL will start to formally propose it to customers. 1. Background In the semiconductor and flat panel display (FPD) industries *, the ultrapure water being used needs to be supplied without lowering its water quality. The types of pipe materials for this purpose include those that use resin materials—hard polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polypropylene (PP), and fluorocarbon resins (polyvinylidene fluoride or PVDF, polytetrafluoroethylene or PTFE, and perfluoroalkoxy or PFA)—as well as those that use metallic materials in the form of metal pipes with special surface treatment. Today's advanced semiconductor industry, with the progress of ultra-miniaturization, requires pipe materials that can suppress the elution of inorganic and organic matter as far as possible. * The flat panel display (FPD) industry refers collectively to all industries related to the manufacture of flat panel displays, including liquid crystal displays, organic EL displays, and LED displays. 2. PFAS and Its Regulation PFAS refers to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, which are difficult to break down in nature and may affect the human body or ecosystems. Among PFAS, the manufacture, import, and such of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) are already prohibited. As of now, PVDF, PTFE, and other materials used in fluorocarbon resin pipes and fittings for ultrapure process applications are not within the scope of regulation in Japan. However, in Europe and the United States, studies are being conducted to comprehensively subject PFAS to regulation. Together with other initiatives, there is a global trend of tighter regulations regarding PFAS. 3. Chronology of Development As a pioneer of plastic piping materials, SEKISUI CHEMICAL launched 'Eslon Clean Pipe'—a hard PVC pipe material for transporting ultrapure water—in 1984. Since then, supported by an impressive track record, the product has been used in a wide range of applications. This time, a special olefin resin pipe material has been developed as a new low-elution material replacing fluorocarbon resins from the perspective of PFAS. In November 2022, a demonstration using an actual ultrapure water manufacturing system was started jointly with Kurita Water Industries Ltd. Compared to existing fluorocarbon resin pipe materials, this special olefin resin pipe material can reduce CO 2 emissions during manufacturing by approximately 80%. Furthermore, in response to the global trend of PFAS regulation, SEKISUI CHEMICAL started working on developing PFAS-free pipes and fittings for ultrapure process applications. 4. Future Prospects With the establishment of this PFAS-free technology, SEKISUI CHEMICAL will start to formally propose it to customers and will aim for market launch within fiscal 2026. The company will also undertake development toward the early realization of creating valves, gaskets, and other pipe materials that are totally free from PFAS in the area of ultrapure process applications. SEKISUI CHEMICAL is accelerating the creation and market expansion of products—such as clean pipes—with high contribution to solving issues in the natural and social environments. For the realization of a sustainable society as well as sustainable growth as a company, the Products to Enhance Sustainability System is being promoted Group-wide to achieve ESG management at a higher level. SEKISUI CHEMICAL will seek to realize a sustainable society by 2030 through creating products that can contribute to solving issues in the natural and social environments when being manufactured as well as when customers use them. (Reference) Eslon Clean Pipe System catalog (Reference) Corporate profile of Kurita Water Industries Ltd. Company name: Kurita Water Industries Ltd. Address: Nakano Central Park East, 4-10-1 Nakano, Nakano-ku, Tokyo 164-0001, Japan Representative: Hirohiko Ejiri, President and Representative Executive Officer Paid-in Capital: 13.4 billion yen Established: July 13, 1949 No. of employees: 8,151 (consolidated) Website:
Time of India
31-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Tool that can remove cancer-causing forever chemicals from water in minutes, developed by scientists
A team of researchers has developed a groundbreaking tool that can remove more than 99% of cancer-causing 'forever chemicals' from drinking water in just five minutes. The high-tech device, created by scientists at the University of Utah , not only purifies water with remarkable efficiency but also glows when it detects contamination, making it a real-time monitoring system as well. Known as PFAS, these persistent chemicals are linked to cancer and other serious health problems. This new invention could transform how we tackle toxic water pollution across the globe. The cancer connection: why forever chemicals are a serious health risk Forever chemicals, officially known as per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), are synthetic compounds used in a wide range of consumer products, from non-stick cookware to waterproof fabrics. Because they do not break down easily in the environment, they accumulate in soil, water, and even the human body. Studies have linked them to several health risks, including cancer, liver damage, immune system dysfunction, and developmental delays in children. How the new filtering technology works and what it targets The research team developed a lab-made crystalline material called a metal-organic framework (MOF), which acts like a molecular sieve. As contaminated water passes through the MOF, it captures and traps PFOA, one of the most toxic types of PFAS, removing more than 99% of it within minutes. This process is not only rapid and effective but also proven to function in complex environmental conditions, including the presence of salts and natural organic matter. A glowing warning system built into the material What sets this tool apart is its built-in detection feature. When PFAS molecules bind to the MOF material, it emits a fluorescent glow, allowing users to instantly confirm whether water is contaminated. This dual capability of purification and detection makes the tool especially valuable for both water treatment and real-time environmental monitoring. A reusable and sustainable solution Unlike many existing PFAS removal technologies that are costly and degrade with repeated use, the new MOF filter is reusable. In tests, the material maintained 93% of its efficiency even after five wash cycles, pointing to its potential as a low-cost, long-term solution for filtering drinking water. What this means for public health and next steps With over 200 million Americans estimated to have PFAS-contaminated water, this new development is a promising step toward safer drinking supplies. Although the MOF-based system is still in the research phase, scientists believe it could eventually be adapted for everyday use. Until then, people living in areas with known PFAS contamination are encouraged to use water filters certified by the National Sanitation Foundation to reduce exposure to PFOA and PFOS.
