U.S. lawmakers are seeking to revise the official definition of PFAS to exclude a profitable subclass of fluorinated gases widely used in industries and linked to environmental harm.
Tom Perkins reports for The Guardian.
In short:
- The Senate defense bill includes language to possibly exclude F-gases, a type of PFAS, from regulation.
- F-gases are used in refrigeration and fire suppression but turn into toxic compounds that accumulate in the environment.
- Public health advocates argue that excluding F-gases from regulation is a dangerous, unscientific move.
Key quote:
“It’s completely unscientific – they’re just hoping to exclude whole chunks of the PFAS class from even being considered PFAS.”
— Erik Olson, senior adviser to the NRDC Action Fund
Why this matters:
PFAS chemicals have been linked to serious health issues and environmental damage. Excluding F-gases from regulation could allow industries to avoid responsibility, potentially increasing the public's exposure to these harmful chemicals.
