The potentially harmful consequences of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) have become a hot topic of discussion among environmentalists and legal professionals. The PFAS Emerging Contaminants Handbook by law firm Steptoe & Johnson PLLC offers a comprehensive analysis surrounding the disturbing aspects of PFAS chemicals and their effects on our environment.
Akin to many substances that were once perceived to be useful – smoking, chloroform, and mercury, for instance – PFAS chemicals are now considered by many to be a curse for our existence.
Smoking, once not only considered harmless but actually seen as healthy, has since been revealed to cause a broad spectrum of chronic health issues. Chloroform, once prevalent in many medicines, is now known to have deadly consequences. Likewise, children used to play with liquid mercury, a substance that is now understood to be intensely toxic, even in tiny amounts.
The trajectory of PFAS chemicals is proving to be eerily similar. Originally developed in the mid-20th century for their water and fat-resistant properties and used extensively in a wide range of consumer products like non-stick cookware and water-proof clothing, these chemicals are now the subject of intense scrutiny due to their persistent and bioaccumulative properties. These substances do not break down easily in the environment, and can accumulate over time, both in the natural environment and within living organisms.
The PFAS Emerging Contaminants Handbook is a timely response to the developing narrative on this class of potentially hazardous chemicals, offering the legal fraternity an insightful resource to understand the complexities surrounding their use, regulation, and potential legacy effects.