PFAS: This chemical has been polluting N.J. for decades. Now, 5 companies have to pay big to clean i

[Eugene]

Source: NJ Advance Media

This chemical has been polluting N.J. for decades. Now, 5 companies have to pay big to clean it up.

Updated 7:09 AM; Posted Mar 25, 11:46 AM

By Michael Sol Warren | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Five chemical companies polluted New Jersey’s water for years with a long-lasting, cancer-causing family of chemicals. Now, the state is directing those companies to clean up the mess.

On Monday, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection issued a directive to five companies -- Chemours, Dow DuPont, DuPont, Solvay and 3M -- aimed at addressing the contamination of what are known as “PFAS” chemicals (short for polyfluoroalkyl and perfluoroalkyl substances).

The chemicals, which are used for products ranging from nonstick cookware to firefighting foam, have been linked to cancer and other health effects, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Under the new directive, which the NJDEP called “groundbreaking,” the named companies are required to disclose all information related to their use and discharge of PFAS chemicals in New Jersey. The companies will also be held financially responsible for the remediation and treatment of PFAS-related contamination in the state.

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Read more: https://www.nj.com/news/2019/03/this-chemical-has-been-polluting-nj-for-decades-now-5-companies-have-to-pay-big-to-clean-it-up.html

[NeoGreen]

1. In the early 1990's, my thesis advisor had a confidential contract with 3M...

...to search all available scientific databases for any references to Perfluorooctanoic Acid, (aka PFOA, C8 and Perfluorooctanoate) in scientific literature. That was it, that was the extent of the contract, 'tell us if ANYONE is talking about this compound' but do not tell anyone what you are searching for or for whom.

Both the professor and I came up empty. His contract was paid, and that was that.

Afterwards, the professor did tell me that the reason 3M wanted the search was because their internal data showed that the compound was accumulating in the blood of their employees, but 3M had not informed their employees of the fact.

They wanted to know if anyone else had noticed.