Toxic PFAS ‘forever chemicals’ threaten both humans and wildlife. It’s time to stop using them.
How our use of PFAS chemicals in manufacturing is putting our natural world in jeopardy.
Toxic threats
It’s up to us to protect our ecosystems and communities from toxic chemicals.
Most of the 80,000 chemicals on the market in the United States have been put into use without testing long-term consequences for the environment, or their impacts on our health. We should make sure that any chemical in use is safe, eliminate those we know are dangerous, and stop using any that are damaging healthy ecosystems. And if an industry makes a toxic mess, we should know right away, and they should be the ones to pay for cleaning it up.
The Latest on Toxic threats
EPA, DOT to increase accountability, safety in wake of Ohio chemical train derailment
STATEMENT on Pennsylvania-Ohio border train explosion
Updates
Chemical train derailment highlights need for stronger safety rules to protect the environment
PennEnvironment Joins Congresswoman Dean to highlight recent increase in funding for toxic site cleanups.
U.S. House committee approves $36 million for schools to get the lead out
Featured Resources
Recording of Farewell to Fluorescents policy briefing
Get the Lead Out Toolkit
Wasting our Waterways
Lead in schools’ water
The Latest
Statement: Congress should pass legislation to protect drinking water from PFAS contamination
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand of New York and Rep. Chris Pappas of New Hampshire introduced the Clean Water Standards for PFAS 2.0 Act into the Senate and the House this week. The bill would require the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish limits on how much PFAS chemicals producers can dump into waterways and to set water quality criteria to protect human health. There are currently no federal regulations that address industrial releases of PFAS into America’s waterways. Already, millions of Americans’ drinking water is contaminated with PFAS.
Report shows extensive lead contamination in Philadelphia public schools
Schools should safe places where kids go to learn, grow and play. But how can they be, when much of the drinking water is contaminated with lead?
Statement: PFAS Firefighter Protection Act takes on dangerous ‘forever chemicals’
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (NY) and Rep. Dan Kildee (MI-5) introduced the PFAS Firefighter Protection Act into the Senate and the House this week. The bill aims to ban firefighting foams made with a class of toxic chemicals commonly referred to as PFAS. Firefighting foams, frequently used at airports and military installations, are one of the major sources of PFAS groundwater contamination in the United States. The bill would ensure that such foams are no longer in use within two years from the date it is passed.
Statement: Clean schools program means cleaner, healthier future
Vice President Kamala Harris will announce on Monday a clean schools infrastructure program, which features grant funding for public school energy upgrades, money for electric school buses, and investments in rural schools.
One of the worst years for manatees ever
The end of 2021 marks one of the grimmest years for Florida manatees. According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, nearly 1,000 manatees have died this year. That's more than double the five-year annual average.