Minnesota has become the first state to enact a nationwide ban on chemical polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as “forever chemicals,” due to their harmful effects on human health and the environment. The law, named after Amara Strande, who died from liver cancer caused by contaminated water, prohibits the willful addition of PFAS to 11 product categories.
The ban aims to reduce exposure to these chemicals, which are resistant to breaking down over time and have made their way into drinking water, food products, and personal care products. Researchers have linked PFAS to hormone-related cancers such as breast, thyroid, and prostate cancer.
By 2032, the law will expand to ban nearly all uses of PFAS. Minnesota taxpayers are estimated to spend $28 billion in the next 20 years to remove PFAS from wastewater and landfill leachate. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) describes PFAS as “forever chemicals” due to their persistent presence in the environment.
The Cookware Sustainability Alliance has filed a complaint against the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, arguing that the ban is discriminatory and unconstitutional. However, the agency has stated that removing harmful PFAS from the environment before it’s too late is essential.
Source: https://www.yahoo.com/news/state-officials-pass-nations-strictest-104544239.html