Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), known for their grease-resistant, water-repellent and insulating properties, include a large category of chemicals used for decades in consumer, commercial and industrial applications. The strong carbon-fluorine bond that allows for the manufacture of oil- and water-resistant products also makes it difficult for PFAS to break down in the environment. This is why many consider PFAS “forever chemicals.”
Over the past decade, PFAS have become a major regulatory and litigation target. The long-term trend does not appear to be changing. Product manufacturers, importers, recyclers, distributors and retailers across numerous industries face increasing risks based on their current and former manufacture, import, sale, use, management and disposal of products containing PFAS.
As federal and state governments move to implement PFAS reporting and disclosure requirements and work to institute PFAS bans, companies must diligently track each of these requirements. This includes vigilant monitoring of the various definitions of PFAS, which range from specific chemicals to chemical structures to broad definitions reaching all chemicals with at least one fully fluorinated carbon atom.
