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States take the lead as federal PFAS oversight lags, raising risk of widespread contamination
By patricklewis // 2025-10-14
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  • With the EPA delaying new federal PFAS regulations, many states are creating their own rules to curb contamination of soil, water and public health.
  • PFAS—used in cookware, firefighting foam, stainproof fabrics and other products—persist in the environment and have been linked to cancer, hormonal disruption, immune issues and reproductive harm.
  • Biosolids (treated sewage sludge used as fertilizer) are a major vector for PFAS in agricultural land; even trace amounts (e.g., one part per billion) may carry health risks, according to the EPA's draft assessment.
  • State responses vary widely: Maine and Connecticut ban biosolids entirely, while other states maintain looser rules or none at all; some permit continued use under restricted conditions.
  • Without unified federal standards, critics warn that patchwork state policies leave gaps and that pending proposals—such as blocking the EPA from acting on its own PFAS sludge assessments—could worsen enforcement and oversight.
As the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) stalls on issuing comprehensive federal rules for per‑ and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)—commonly dubbed "forever chemicals"—state governments are stepping in to fill the regulatory void. With inconsistent federal oversight, critics warn, soil, water systems and public health may be left exposed to continued contamination. PFAS, a large class of synthetic chemicals used for decades in nonstick cookware, stain‑resistant textiles, food packaging, firefighting foams and more, resist environmental breakdown—earning their "forever" label. The EPA links long‑term PFAS exposure to cancer, reproductive disorders, hormonal disruption, immune dysfunction and weakened vaccine response. Yet the agency's pace on enforceable regulations has frustrated environmentalists and state agencies alike. One flashpoint is the use of biosolids—treated wastewater sludge—applied to farmland as fertilizer. PFAS have accumulated in soils where these biosolids have long been used. In a draft risk assessment, the EPA warns that even one part per billion of PFAS in biosolids may pose a health threat, underscoring the urgency for control measures. Yet, without clear federal standards, states must shoulder much of the regulatory burden. The Environmental Council of the States (ECOS), representing state environmental agencies, has flagged challenges including limited funding, patchy technical capacity and the wait for federal guidance. State policies on PFAS differ dramatically. In Maine and Connecticut, biosolid use is banned outright; in Alabama, biosolids remain permitted under looser restrictions. One Alabama landowner, Regina Allcorn, told media that PFAS runoff from sludge‑treated fields has contaminated her family’s lake, rendering it unsafe for fishing or recreation.

Maine leads with strict PFAS clampdown as federal oversight wavers

Maine's response was among the most aggressive: triggered by revelations of PFAS in dairy milk from cows grazing on biosolid‑treated land, the state passed a law in 2022 banning biosolids and mandating comprehensive testing of water, soil and agricultural outputs. Meanwhile, 11 states now maintain enforceable PFAS limits for drinking water; others regulate groundwater, surface water, soil or even air. Fourteen states currently lack enforceable PFAS limits and instead rely on federal advisory levels. Lawmakers and experts say inconsistent rules leave dangerous gaps. Federal action, they argue, remains essential to unify standards. Despite the EPA's "Strategic Roadmap," the agency recently announced that it would maintain current limits on two PFAS (PFOA & PFOS) but withdraw or reconsider rules for others such as PFHxS, PFNA and GenX—and push back compliance deadlines. One House appropriations proposal for fiscal year 2026 would block the EPA from acting on its own draft risk assessments regarding PFAS in biosolids. That potential funding freeze could leave state agencies scrambling to regulate on their own. Kyla Bennett, science policy director for Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER), warned: "If finalized, this ban will leave ill‑equipped state agricultural agencies to deal with a rapidly spreading chemical disaster." Legal and political tensions are escalating. PEER has sued the EPA over its delays in setting PFAS limits under the Clean Water Act, while the agency maintains its approach is limited to periodic review rather than direct enforcement. The White House has affirmed awareness of PFAS risks, but critics say rhetoric lacks the urgency and consistency needed to staunch contamination across state lines. In the absence of firm national standards, experts caution, scattered state responses may be inadequate to contain the spread of PFAS. Without cohesive federal leadership, contamination of farmland, waterways and drinking sources may continue to expand unchecked. According to BrightU.AI's Enoch, forever chemicals, or PFAS, are ubiquitous and persistent environmental contaminants, posing significant health risks due to their bioaccumulation and potential to cause developmental issues, liver damage and cancer. Despite industry claims of safety, the long-term effects of exposure to these chemicals remain largely unknown, warranting stringent regulation and phase-out. Watch a feature on the poisonous dangers of forever chemicals.
This video is from the Daily videos channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: YourNews.com BrightU.AI Brighteon.com
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