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Scientists Conducting Research into Fluorinated Pollutants Known As PFAs

NEW YORK - Scientists have been placing a growing emphasis on a series of commonly-found – but until recently misunderstood – chemicals typically utilized in the creation of consumer products such as water-resistant clothing, stain-resistant furniture, nonstick cookware, and more, focusing mainly on their intrusion into the environment and the subsequent potential health risks to human beings.

Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl are perfluorinated chemicals – or PFAs for short – were created in the mid-20th century and have found widespread use in creating non-stick items serving a variety of uses, including in plastic and rubber used to make food wrappers, umbrellas, tents, carpets and firefighting foam. PFAs are resistant to water, oil, and heat, and their omnipresence in today’s society has resulted in these chemicals making their way into the environment...including our drinking water.

Testing has revealed PFAs in rivers, lakes, and drinking water supplies, according to reports; subsequently, PFAs are now being actually being found in people, particularly in their bloodstreams. And the reason that this is occurring is due to the resiliency of these chemicals, as they often take an extremely long amount of time to break down in the environment...or the human body. As a result, a person could have PFAs in their blood for years, or even decades, experts say, and if these pollutants are saturated in a person’s local environment, they could have a continual source of contamination ensuring non-stop exposure.

However, is exposure to PFAs harmful, and if so, what are the risks? These are questions that scientists are currently not able to provide answers to, as their research into PFAs is essentially in its earliest stages. In fact, a current legal safety limit of exposure to PFAs hasn’t even been established yet by any group that governs public environmental or health issues. Science needs to provide answers before PFAs can be properly regulated, experts say. Regardless, the Environmental Protection Agency has made note of the fact that it intends to eventually establish legal safety limit for certain PFAs in drinking water, although what types – there are currently over 5,000 and growing – and the amounts have not been revealed as of yet.

The amount of money going into public research of PFAs has been steadily increasing by groups such as the National Institutes of Health, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and multiple state university systems. One issue that makes research into PFAs difficult, however, is the fact that current regulations that govern chemicals in the United States do not require that a chemical has to be proven to be hazardous before it can be sold; instead, the EPA must make a determination following testing that a given chemical poses a risk under specific circumstances in order for action to be taken, and normally this only happens after health concerns are expressed by the public.

Early testing of PFAs has established some of the potential risks the chemical can pose to the health and well-being of both environments and people; research has determined that a "probable link" exists between long-term exposure to a PFAs chemical called PFOA and kidney cancer and thyroid disease developed by people in West Virginia and Ohio who were allegedly exposed to the substance by chemical company DuPont; a class-action lawsuit is currently in the works.

A 2016 study found unsafe levels of PFAs in 194 out of 4,864 water supplies in 33 U.S. states. Covering two-thirds of drinking water supplies in the United States, the study found thirteen states accounted for 75% of the detections, and firefighting foam was singled out as a major contributor. In addition, a 2018 report to Congress indicated that "at least 126 drinking water systems on or near military bases" were contaminated with PFAS compounds.

Scientific studies of both humans and rodents have resulted in similar findings, lending credence to the worries that PFAs pose serious health risks. However, scientists working on research and testing into PFAs still say that they are approximately two years away from concrete answers. However, it certainly can’t be expected that the answers – when they eventually come – will be anything positive. But in the meantime, supporting programs that look at risks to the environment can help, as can reaching out to your local legislators and lawmakers to tighten chemical production oversight and regulation.

After all, if perfluorinated chemicals were supposed to be in the environment – and our bodies – wouldn’t Mother Nature have put them there already?

Effectively Doing Your Laundry While Remaining a Staunch Environmentalist

COMMACK - When it comes to doing your laundry, even the most steadfast environmentalist may find it a difficult task to get their whites white while successfully navigating the sheer amount of chemicals and additives that most store-bought laundry products bring to the table, in conjunction with the hazardous by-products produced and the huge drain on natural resources. When it comes to the environment, laundry day is an often-overlooked component of backdoor pollution, but not a hard one to overcome once you’ve acknowledged it and planned around its initial shortcomings. In other words, it’s still possible to get your whites white while remaining green, so to speak.

Your average load of wash brings with it a number of environmental issues- chemical detergents, enormous water use, dry cleaning agents, excessive plastic use, and much, much more. But with a little homework and some forethought, it’s easy to find some very solid tips for doing your laundry while helping the Earth’s ecosystems to remain clean as well. Here’s a list of things to do to keep your clothes both clean and environmentally friendly at the same time.

  1. First, find a biodegradable detergent. Typical detergents contain surfactants, a substance that is used to remove grime and caked-in dirt from your clothes. But once your wash is done, the water used – along with the surfactants – is flushed out into our waterways, such as rivers and streams, where it will provide a very toxic problem for any aquatic life form they encounter. However, there are eco-friendly detergents that biodegrade within mere days of its use, which lowers the risk of environmental contamination to a huge degree. These detergents are typically plant-based (as opposed to petroleum-based), which contributes to their ability to break down into harmless non-pollutant residue after use. Two such brands are Mrs. Meyers and Method (Google can help you track them down). In stores, any plant-based and/or biodegradable soap or laundry detergent will be clearly marked on its label. And if you live in an area where you can’t get your hands on this fancy eco-friendly detergent and HAVE to use a run-of-the-mill cleaning agent for your laundry, go with a powdered detergent over liquid; powdered detergent typically contains smaller concentrations of surfactants, making it “less bad” for the environment, at least.
  2. Use cold water exclusively whenever possible when doing your wash; in addition to being better when it comes to avoiding shrinking or color bleeding of your garments, it’s also the best solution for the environment as well. Your washing machine generates an enormous amount of energy in order to heat water – up to 90 percent of the energy expended in an average load of wash is from this – and maintaining a cold temperature for your water will not only reduce the environmental impact of your laundry, but it will save on energy costs as well. Your laundry machine may use up to 90% of its energy just to heat the water, so maintaining the water’s temperature will not only help less your environmental impact, but also provide the added benefit of saving money on water heating costs, too.
  3. When it comes to drying your clothes after they’re clean, it’s certainly – and easily – possible to go green as well. It’s simple- always air dry your laundry. It should be obvious, of course, but it’s amazing just how many people will just toss everything in the dryer without a second thought of the environmental consequences. An average dryer can use as much energy as a new washer, refrigerator, and dishwasher put together, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council. Air drying, however, will save your money on your electric bill, and it’s far less harmful for the fibers of your clothing as well; drying them over and over again in a machine creates microscopic tears, wearing your clothes down and reducing their useful life to you.
  4. And finally, try and use the services of a dry cleaner only when you absolutely have to. Most dry cleaners in the country – about 85 percent – use a cleaning solvent known as perchloroethylene, which some states consider a “probable carcinogen.” Plus, there are a number of horror stories where a cleaner has encountered problems with perchloroethylene leakage into the surrounding ground, resulting in local contamination and subsequent clean-up work. Avoiding dry cleaners except when necessary is a good thing, and if you have to engage the services of one, go with ones that utilize environmentally-friendly dry cleaning processes such as wet-dry cleaning and liquid carbon dioxide cleaning. Some cleaners also use hydrocarbon solvents or silicon-based solvents, which aren’t as good for the environment, but are still miles better than perchloroethylene.

As you can see, it’s possible to still do a load of wash these days while still contributing to the betterment of the planet that we live on. Like anything good, it take a bit more work, but in the end, it’s worth it.

EPA Announces Clean-Up Plan for Donna Canal and Reservoir Site in South Texas

 

DALLAS – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the Record of Decision (ROD) for the Donna Canal and Reservoir Superfund site in Donna, Hidalgo Co., Texas. The ROD includes the remedy, or final clean-up plan, for the site, which contains fish and sediment contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). The remedy calls for removing contaminated sediment and fish and building new infrastructure at the source of the contamination, among other measures. These actions will address risks to people’s health associated with eating fish from the reservoir and canal system.

 

“The community around the Donna Canal and Reservoir system has lived with the burden of PCB contamination for too long,” said Regional Administrator Anne Idsal. “EPA’s final remedy will address the health risks from contaminated sediment and fish and help keep families safe.”

 

The site was placed on the National Priorities List in 2008, after several decades of work by EPA and state partners to address PCB contamination and prevent people from eating the contaminated fish. The likely source of contamination is a large concrete siphon that makes up part of the pathway for water to flow from the canal to the reservoir. An important part of the remedy involves removing 20,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediment from the canal to be disposed of at an off-site facility and constructing a new siphon. In addition, fish will be removed from identified contaminated sections of the site annually for five years to prevent people from catching and consuming them.

 

PCBs are a mixture of individual chemicals no longer produced in the United States, but are still found in the environment. Health effects include acne-like skin conditions in adults and nervous and immune system changes in children. PCBs are known to cause cancer in animals. Since contamination was discovered in the early 1990s, EPA and state and local partners have worked to find the source and prevent community members from eating fish caught in the canal and reservoir system.

 

After establishing the likely contamination source in early 2018, EPA developed a proposed plan for cleanup. The plan was released for a 30-day public review and comment in May 2018. The ROD establishes the final decision for the site’s cleanup remedy, as well as requirements for future maintenance of cleanup standards.

 

Connect with EPA Region 6:

EPA Announces $74 Million Cleanup Plan for American Cyanamid Superfund Site in Bridgewater Township, N.J.

 

NEW YORK, NY - On September 28, 2018, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a $74 million final plan to clean up acid tars, benzene, and other chemicals at the American Cyanamid Superfund site in Bridgewater Township, N.J.

 

“The remedy selected in this Record of Decision will clean up the two most contaminated impoundments in a manner that is protective of the Bridgewater community and the workers at the site,” said Acting EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler. “This final cleanup plan reflects our commitment to prioritize the Superfund Program and ensure these sites are cleaned up as quickly and safely as possible.”

 

“More than 44,000 tons of hazardous waste will be removed from the Bridgewater community and permanently destroyed. Approximately 2.3 million gallons of contaminated liquid will be collected and treated.” said EPA Regional Administrator Pete Lopez. “This action safeguards people’s health and arrests a threat to the Raritan River.”

 

“Bridgewater is counting on the EPA to remove these 44,000 tons of waste.  These hazards need to be out of our community as soon as possible,” said Congressman Leonard Lance, federal lawmaker for Bridgewater and member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.  “I am pleased the EPA is implementing a final plan and moving forward in getting this job done.  I believe the final plan to be responsible and the disposal of the approximately 2.3 million gallons of contaminated liquid will result in the contaminants’ safe removal and permanent destruction.”

 

Bridgewater Township Mayor Daniel J. Hayes, Jr. said, “I am happy to see that the EPA has come to a community based resolution on the two most contaminated impoundments. Public safety remains our priority. We look forward to working with our partners EPA and Pfizer on cleaning up this site.”

 

The final cleanup plan, called a Record of Decision (ROD), includes excavation and dewatering of contaminated material within two waste disposal areas (impoundments), followed by shipment out of the area to a facility, for treatment and disposal. Soil impacted by the impoundment contaminants will also be treated, using on-site stabilization or solidification. Surrounding “berm materials” that do not require treatment will be used as backfill, and a protective cover will be placed over the cleanup area. Measures will be taken to assure that the cleanup is undertaken in a way that is protective of workers at the site and the surrounding community.

 

Under the Trump Administration, the Superfund program has reemerged as a priority to fulfill and strengthen EPA’s core mission of protecting human health and the environment.

 

American Cyanamid Superfund site was included on the first-ever Administrator’s Emphasis List. The Administrator’s Emphasis List is composed of sites that will benefit from the Acting Administrator’s immediate and intense action. Specifically, the site was added to expedite the release of the Proposed Plan with EPA’s Preferred Alternative, which was released for public comment on May 28, 2018.

 

EPA held a public meeting in Bridgewater in June 2018 to explain the cleanup proposal and other options that were considered, and take public comment. The ROD officially selects the final remedy and responds directly to comments received during that comment period.

 

To read the EPA’s final decision, outlined in the ROD, please visit: https://semspub.epa.gov/work/02/550185.pdf  or  www.epa.gov/superfund/american-cyanamid

 

Background
The American Cyanamid Superfund Site has a history of industrial pollution dating back to 1915. For nearly 100 years, prior owners used the location for manufacturing chemicals. Several impoundments were constructed and used for waste storage and disposal throughout this period of time, which eventually resulted in the contamination of soil and groundwater with chemicals and heavy metals. The site was placed on the federal Superfund list in 1983.

 

In 1999, EPA removed a portion of the Superfund site from the 1983 Superfund listing, freeing it up for redevelopment and reuse. In 2012, the EPA selected a cleanup plan to address contaminated soil, groundwater and six waste disposal areas (called impoundments 3, 4, 5, 13, 17 and 24) at the site. That phase of cleanup, which is currently ongoing and being performed by Wyeth Holdings LLC, involves collecting and treating contaminated groundwater. The groundwater pump and treat system will prevent contaminated water from seeping into the nearby Raritan River, Cuckels Brook and Middle Brook.

 

The Superfund program has been providing important health benefits to communities across the country for more than 35 years. Superfund cleanups also strengthen local economies. Data collected through 2017 shows that at 487 Superfund sites in reuse, approximately 6,600 businesses are generating $43.6 billion in sales and employ 156,000 people who earned a combined income of $11.2 billion.

 

On the one-year anniversary of the EPA’s Superfund Task Force Report, EPA announced significant progress in carrying out the report’s recommendations. These achievements will provide certainty to communities, state partners, and developers that the nation’s most hazardous sites will be cleaned up as quickly and safely as possible.

 

EPA Begins Public Comment Period on Cleanup Plan for Behr Dayton Thermal System VOC Plume Superfund Site in Dayton, Ohio

EPA will hold a public meeting on Sept. 20 to accept oral comments

 

CHICAGO (Sept. 6, 2018) – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is accepting public comments on an interim proposed cleanup plan to address most of the groundwater contamination and to reduce exposure from soil vapor at the Behr Dayton Thermal System VOC Plume Superfund site in Dayton, Ohio.

U.S. EPA proposes injecting air into the contaminated groundwater to strip harmful chemicals as a vapor. These gases would travel into the air spaces in the soil above the water table where they would be captured by vacuum wells, sent through a treatment system, and then released into the air. U.S. EPA also proposes expanding ongoing monitoring air inside homes and businesses and taking measures to clean up indoor air as needed.

U.S. EPA will accept comments on the proposal until Oct. 5. To submit comments:

  • Attend the public meeting on Thursday, Sept. 20, at 6 p.m., at the Kiser Elementary School Cafeteria, 1401 Leo St., Dayton, and submit an oral statement, or
  • Visit U.S. EPA’s website at: www.epa.gov/superfund/behr-dayton-thermal, or
  • Send written comments postmarked no later than Oct. 5 to Heriberto León, U.S. EPA Region 5, Superfund Division (SI-6J), 77 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago, IL 60604, or email leon.heriberto@epa.gov, or fax 312-697-2754.

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