{"id":16750,"date":"2025-07-03T09:32:31","date_gmt":"2025-07-03T13:32:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aseq-ehaq.ca\/?p=16750"},"modified":"2025-07-03T09:34:17","modified_gmt":"2025-07-03T13:34:17","slug":"forever-chemicals-why-2023-was-just-the-beginning-and-what-you-can-do","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aseq-ehaq.ca\/en\/forever-chemicals-why-2023-was-just-the-beginning-and-what-you-can-do\/","title":{"rendered":"Forever Chemicals: Why 2023 Was Just the Beginning\u2014and What You Can Do"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Have you ever paused while using your favorite non-stick pan, or even dental floss, and wondered\u2014<em>what&#8217;s actually in this stuff<\/em>? For many, the unsettling truth about PFAS\u2014also known as \u201cforever chemicals\u201d\u2014only comes to light after a deeper look.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These chemicals don\u2019t just reside in our products; they reside in us\u2014in our blood, our water, and our environment. And the worst part? They don\u2019t go away easily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2023, the world finally started paying more attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a><\/a> <strong>What Are PFAS\u2014and Why Should You Care?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>PFAS (short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a group of around 15,000 man-made chemicals used in everything from firefighting foam and fast-food wrappers to stain-resistant clothes and cosmetics. Their nickname, &#8220;forever chemicals,&#8221; comes from their ability to stick around\u2014literally forever\u2014in the environment and the human body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Studies have linked PFAS exposure to a host of health concerns: cancer, hormone disruption, immune dysfunction, thyroid problems, and even ulcerative colitis. According to the CDC, these chemicals may already be present in the blood of 97% of Americans. Yes, 97%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is no longer a distant concern\u2014it\u2019s present in our homes, our schools, and even our bodies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>2023: The Year of Reckoning for PFAS Producers<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In a historic wave of lawsuits, chemical companies like 3M, Chemours, DuPont, and Corteva were pushed to confront the widespread contamination they\u2019ve contributed to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s what went down:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Over $11 billion<\/strong> in settlements were reached in 2023 alone.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Water utilities across the U.S. sued manufacturers for the cost of cleaning contaminated drinking water.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Major players like <strong>3M<\/strong> agreed to stop producing PFAS by <strong>2025<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>States like <strong>New Jersey<\/strong> and <strong>Ohio<\/strong> secured multi-million-dollar settlements for environmental damages.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>And it\u2019s not just governments. People affected by PFAS\u2014especially those living near industrial plants or exposed through firefighting foam\u2014are filing personal injury claims.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a><\/a> <strong>Relaxation of Regulations<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is starting to loosen up its regulation on PFAS. Although there are restrictions in place, the compliance deadlines for these regulations on water systems are being extended from 2029-2031.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The agency plans to rescind and reconsider limits on four other PFAS chemicals. These chemicals were previously regulated due to their associated health risks, including liver damage, cancer, and developmental issues .<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a><\/a> <strong>So\u2026 What Can <\/strong><em><strong>We<\/strong><\/em><strong> Do About It?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>While we wait for the courts and policymakers to catch up, there are steps we can take as individuals to limit our exposure and support change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a><\/a> <strong>Check Your Products<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Look for <strong>PFAS-free<\/strong> labels on cookware, cosmetics, outerwear, and household items. However, be aware that some PFAS-free products may still contain substitute chemicals that are equally or more harmful.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Refer to the <a href=\"https:\/\/aseq-ehaq.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/swap-smart-final.pdf\"><u>Swap Smart Tips Sheet<\/u><\/a> for safer alternatives.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a><\/a> <strong>Filter Your Water<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Some home water filters, especially those with activated carbon, can reduce PFAS. Check with your supplier for PFAS certifications.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a><\/a> <strong>Use Your Voice<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Support PFAS-related legislation in your area.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Share this issue with your community. Awareness is a powerful catalyst for change.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a><\/a> <strong>Why This Matters<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>We are not apart from our environment, we are a part of it. Chemicals impact not just our environment but <em>our bodies as well<\/em>, especially those already living with chronic conditions. Communities closest to industrial sites or marginalized due to income and race are often the most affected\u2014and the least protected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This isn&#8217;t just about chemistry. It&#8217;s about justice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>References<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Mindock, C. (2023, December 28). <em>\u2018Forever chemicals\u2019 were everywhere in 2023. Expect more litigation in 2024<\/em>. Reuters.<a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/legal\/litigation\/forever-chemicals-were-everywhere-2023-expect-more-litigation-2024-2023-12-28\/\"> <\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/legal\/litigation\/forever-chemicals-were-everywhere-2023-expect-more-litigation-2024-2023-12-28\/\"><u>https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/legal\/litigation\/forever-chemicals-were-everywhere-2023-expect-more-litigation-2024-2023-12-28\/<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Best Best &amp; Krieger LLP. (2025, May 15). <em>EPA announces plan to modify PFAS drinking water rule and extend compliance deadline<\/em>.<a href=\"https:\/\/bbklaw.com\/resources\/la-051525-epa-announces-plan-to-modify-pfas-drinking-water-rule-and-extend-compliance-deadline\"> <\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/bbklaw.com\/resources\/la-051525-epa-announces-plan-to-modify-pfas-drinking-water-rule-and-extend-compliance-deadline\"><u>https:\/\/bbklaw.com\/resources\/la-051525-epa-announces-plan-to-modify-pfas-drinking-water-rule-and-extend-compliance-deadline<\/u><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Have you ever paused while using your favorite non-stick pan, or even dental floss, and wondered\u2014what&#8217;s actually in this stuff? For many, the unsettling truth about PFAS\u2014also known as \u201cforever chemicals\u201d\u2014only comes to light after a deeper look. These chemicals don\u2019t just reside in our products; they reside in us\u2014in our blood, our water, and our environment. And the worst [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16750","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/aseq-ehaq.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16750","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/aseq-ehaq.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/aseq-ehaq.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aseq-ehaq.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aseq-ehaq.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16750"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/aseq-ehaq.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16750\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/aseq-ehaq.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16750"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aseq-ehaq.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16750"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aseq-ehaq.ca\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16750"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}