In 2023, the world’s attention increasingly focused on “forever chemicals,” particularly PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), due to their persistent nature and potential health risks.
As a leader in environmental remediation, ecoSPEARS has been closely monitoring these developments and is setting ambitious goals for 2024 in response to the top searched questions and concerns about these chemicals.
Understanding the Nature and Impact of Forever Chemicals
Articles like “How to take ‘forever’ out of forever chemicals”[1] from Nature have highlighted the stubborn nature of PFAS in drinking water and the associated health risks. This growing interest in understanding what forever chemicals are and how they impact health and the environment aligns with our mission to educate and provide solutions.
In 2024, we aim to enhance public understanding of the risks associated with forever chemicals through educational initiatives and community engagement.
Bridging the Gap in Public Awareness
A report from U.S. News revealed that nearly half of Americans have limited knowledge about harmful PFAS forever chemicals. Recognizing this significant gap in public awareness, we plan to launch awareness campaigns, and to collaborate with organizations to disseminate information effectively, ensuring that more people understand the risks and solutions related to PFAS.
Addressing Regulatory Actions and Legal Implications
The focus on regulatory measures, as discussed in articles from The Washington Post and the American Bar Association, reflects concerns about controlling the spread and impact of forever chemicals.
We support these regulatory efforts and plan to work closely with policymakers and stakeholders to advocate for better enforcement in 2024.
Our goals for 2024 are directly influenced by the top searched questions of 2023:
- Extent of PFAS Contamination: In response to the U.S. Geological Survey’s report that at least 45% of tap water in the U.S. could have one or more PFAS, we aim to expand our testing services to provide more comprehensive data on PFAS presence in water systems, and to include sediment and soil in our testing.
- Health and Environmental Impacts: Echoing concerns raised by The New York Times, which discussed the wide-ranging impacts of PFAS, including health risks and environmental concerns, we’ll continue to develop solutions to mitigate the impacts of PFAS, emphasizing safe and sustainable remediation methods.
- Regulatory Updates: Following the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulatory updates and rule in October 2023 to improve reporting on PFAS to the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI), we will continue to align our technologies and services with the latest regulations, ensuring compliance and promoting best practices in the industry.
2024 and Beyond
We, as a company, are committed to addressing the challenges posed by forever chemicals. Through education, research, collaboration, and innovative solutions, we aim to reduce the prevalence and impact of PFAS in the environment and public health.
Our goals are ambitious, but with the growing awareness and concerted efforts, we believe a future with cleaner water and a safer environment is within reach.
[1] Nature Article on Forever Chemicals:
Nature. (2023). “How to take ‘forever’ out of forever chemicals.” [Online Article]. Available: [Insert URL here].
U.S. News Report on Public Awareness:
U.S. News & World Report. (2023). “Most Americans Know Little About Harmful PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’.” [Online Article]. Available: [https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2023-11-21/most-americans-know-little-about-harmful-pfas-forever-chemicals].
Washington Post Article on Regulatory Actions:
The Washington Post. (2023). “All About PFAS, the ‘Forever Chemicals’ That US and EU Are Targeting.” [Online Article]. Available: [https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2023/08/24/pfas-all-about-forever-chemicals-and-why-us-eu-are-targeting-them/c4426f2a-4291-11ee-9677-53cc50eb3f77_story.html].
Phys.org Article on PFAS Research:
Phys.org. (2023). “PFAS: How research is uncovering damaging effects of ‘forever chemicals’.” [Online Article]. Available: [https://phys.org/news/2023-11-pfas-uncovering-effects-chemicals.html].
American Bar Association Article on Legal Implications:
American Bar Association. (2023). “Be Aware of the “Forever Chemicals”.” [Online Article]. Available: [https://www.americanbar.org/groups/judicial/publications/judges_journal/2023/fall/be-aware-forever-chemicals/].
U.S. Geological Survey Report:
U.S. Geological Survey. (2023). “Title of the Report.” [Online Report]. Available: [https://www.usgs.gov/news/national-news-release/tap-water-study-detects-pfas-forever-chemicals-across-us].
The New York Times Article on PFAS Impacts:
The New York Times. (2023). “Forever Chemicals Are Everywhere. What Are They Doing To Us?” [Online Article]. Available: [https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/16/magazine/pfas-toxic-chemicals.html].
USA Today Report on Water Systems:
USA Today. (2023). “EPA detected “forever chemicals” in water systems serving 46 million. Is yours on our map?.” [Online Article]. Available: [https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/investigations/2023/11/11/pfas-forever-chemicals-detected-in-water-systems-that-serve-46-million/71528470007/].
Reuters Article on Legal Actions:
Reuters. (2023). “3M, DuPont defeat massive class action over forever chemicals.” [Online Article]. Available: [https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/3m-dupont-defeat-massive-class-action-over-forever-chemicals-2023-11-27/].
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Regulatory Update:
Environmental Protection Agency. (2023). “Key EPA Actions to Address PFAS.” [Online Document]. Available: [https://www.epa.gov/pfas/key-epa-actions-address-pfas].