Legislative Remedies
Maryland's State House in Annapolis
March 8, 2020 - There’s a weak bill circulating in Maryland's General Assembly that would ban the use of PFAS substances during civilian firefighter training purposes. Defenders of the bill say it is a modest, but useful step to close the door on some uses of these toxic chemicals and to start the discussion on stricter legislation. Let’s flip the legislative etch-a-sketch upside down, give it a good shake, and start all over.
No one should be eating food or drinking water containing PFAS. It's poisonous.
Because the Trump administration’s EPA is asleep at the switch, it’s imperative the state takes the lead in protecting Marylanders and our environment. Maryland is behind the learning curve on this issue. Public health professionals and environmentalists in the US and internationally are calling PFAS one of the greatest threats to human health in all human history.
Here are several measures that ought to go into a responsible bill:
Maryland must test surface waters throughout the state for the presence of PFAS, especially in locations near military and industrial sites known to use or have had a history of using PFAS.
Maryland must test sewer sludge and wastewater throughout the state for the presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and make the results public. Fish and shellfish should also be tested, as well as the soils and crops where sludge is spread. All prior test results by civil and military authorities should be publicly released.
Maryland must test drinking water in all municipal water systems and in the most vulnerable private wells located near military and industrial sites known to use, or have had a history of using, PFAS.
Maryland must establish a Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) of 1 part per trillion, (ppt.) in groundwater and drinking water for all PFAS types combined.
Maryland must establish a PFAS infrastructure grant program for municipal water providers. These funds would be used primarily to establish Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) filter systems to filter out the carcinogens so that tap water may be provided under the newly established MCL.
Maryland must immediately ban the use of all fire-fighting foams containing PFAS. Capable substitutes known as fluorine-free foams, or 3F are in regular use throughout European airports.
Maryland must ban the use of PFAS in a multitude of consumer products - from food packaging to cookware to cosmetics.
Maryland must immediately publish an emergency health warning specifically targeting women who are pregnant or may become pregnant. They must be told of the potential danger in their food and water.
Maryland must immediately ban the incineration of PFAS.
No one should be eating food or drinking water containing PFAS. It's poisonous.
Because the Trump administration’s EPA is asleep at the switch, it’s imperative the state takes the lead in protecting Marylanders and our environment. Maryland is behind the learning curve on this issue. Public health professionals and environmentalists in the US and internationally are calling PFAS one of the greatest threats to human health in all human history.
Here are several measures that ought to go into a responsible bill:
Maryland must test surface waters throughout the state for the presence of PFAS, especially in locations near military and industrial sites known to use or have had a history of using PFAS.
Maryland must test sewer sludge and wastewater throughout the state for the presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and make the results public. Fish and shellfish should also be tested, as well as the soils and crops where sludge is spread. All prior test results by civil and military authorities should be publicly released.
Maryland must test drinking water in all municipal water systems and in the most vulnerable private wells located near military and industrial sites known to use, or have had a history of using, PFAS.
Maryland must establish a Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) of 1 part per trillion, (ppt.) in groundwater and drinking water for all PFAS types combined.
Maryland must establish a PFAS infrastructure grant program for municipal water providers. These funds would be used primarily to establish Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) filter systems to filter out the carcinogens so that tap water may be provided under the newly established MCL.
Maryland must immediately ban the use of all fire-fighting foams containing PFAS. Capable substitutes known as fluorine-free foams, or 3F are in regular use throughout European airports.
Maryland must ban the use of PFAS in a multitude of consumer products - from food packaging to cookware to cosmetics.
Maryland must immediately publish an emergency health warning specifically targeting women who are pregnant or may become pregnant. They must be told of the potential danger in their food and water.
Maryland must immediately ban the incineration of PFAS.