| October 26, 2022 End of Session Summary of PFAS Legislation in California: New Laws Ban PFAS in Textiles and Cosmetics, but Newsom Vetoes PFAS Reporting Requirement The 2022 California legislative session, which closed in August, included three bills aimed at addressing sources of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). PFAS describe a large category of man-made chemical compounds that repel water, dirt, oil, and grease. The chemical properties of PFAS have made them particularly desirable for use in food packaging, stain- and water-repellant fabrics, and nonstick products. However, PFAS’s unique chemical properties also make them resistant to degradation in the environment, earning them the moniker of “forever chemicals.” PFAS have been found to be highly mobile in the environment, susceptible to traveling through soil and seeping into groundwater or to traveling long distances through the air. The tendency of PFAS to travel through the environment and bioaccumulate in plants and animals is of particular concern because of the association between exposure to PFAS and adverse health effects…. Read More Written by Michelle E. Chester |