Supreme Court to Review OxyContin Settlement
The History Purdue Pharma’s aggressive marketing of OxyContin is often cited as a catalyst of a nationwide opioid epidemic. Oxycontin is a powerful prescription painkiller that hit the market in 1996. The company pleaded guilty to misbranding the drug in 2007 and paid more than $600 million in fines and penalties. Opioid-related overdose deaths have […]
Health Risks of PFAS Exposure
Scientific investigators around the world continue to explore the human health risks of PFAS. The chemical group PFAS includes reference to PFOS and PFOA chemicals. Dupont and 3M created PFAS chemicals and hold patents on their chemical composition. Although most research primarily concerns drinking water exposure, scientific investigations have turned to look at other exposures, […]
Water Treatment for PFAS Contamination
The synthetic PFAS chemicals, PFOA and PFOS, pose a significant threat to drinking water supplies in the U.S. Their characteristics make them resistant to natural breakdown over time. Moreover, their high-water solubility contributes to significant mobility in soil and an affinity for leaching into groundwater. Therefore, these chemicals pose a heightened threat to municipalities drawing […]
The Environmental Impact of Firefighting Foam
A Deep Dive into PFOS and PFOA Firefighting Foam (AFFF) has long been a critical tool in addressing flammable liquid-based fires, but its impact on the environment has come under scrutiny, particularly with the generation of PFAS substances like PFOS and PFOA. This essay explores the composition of firefighting foam, the enduring nature of PFOS […]
Evolution and Advancements in Firefighting Foams
In 1902, Russian engineer and chemist Aleksandr Loran spearheaded the development of the first firefighting foam. Loran’s innovative solution addressed the inefficiencies of water in combating oil and flammable liquid-based fires. NRL and 3M Collaboration in the 1960s Delving into the 1960s, the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) collaborated with the 3M Company to enhance firefighting […]
Active PFAS Laws on Wastewater and Sludge
The persistence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the environment and potential health risks have thrust these chemicals into the regulatory spotlight. As scientists delve deeper into the impact of PFAS, regulatory frameworks are evolving to address these concerns. PFAS-related laws focusing on wastewater and PFAS-containing sludge are emerging but remain rare. PFAS and […]
Types of Damage Claims Filed in the AFFF Firefighting Foam MDL
Municipalities are filing distinct types of legal actions in the Aqueous Film-Forming Foams (AFFF) Products Liability Litigation MDL No. 2873. These legal actions all involve varied damage claims relating to PFAS chemicals. Generally, Plaintiffs claim that firefighting foams containing PFAS chemicals contaminated groundwater near various military bases, airports, and other industrial sites. This contamination damaged […]
Important Update: AFFF Municipal Water Claims
Greetings from Charleston! This is my report from the DuPont $1.3 billion public water service settlement hearing in the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina. Judge Gergel will take the matter under advisement, and render a written decision. I feel there’s a good chance the settlement will ultimately be approved. A […]
PFAS Replacements in US Homes and People
A newly published study examines the spread and impact of shorter chain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The authors titled the study “Elevated Levels of Ultrashort- and Short-Chain Perfluoroalkyl Acids in US Homes and People”. The Environmental Science & Technology journal published this study on October 11, 2023. The study scrutinizes the presence of short […]
The Impact of PFAS on Kidney Cancer Risk
Insights from a Comprehensive Study PFAS remain environmentally persistent manmade pollutants that resist biodegradation. Because of this, they are known as “forever chemicals” and scientific investigators worldwide are studying the potential human health impacts. Researchers have detected PFAS chemicals in over 98% of the US population. Regulatory researchers continue to scrutinize PFAS for potentially causing […]