PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as “forever chemicals,” are toxic chemicals found in a wide range of products we consume and use on a daily basis including packaging, cookware, cosmetics, and textiles. These chemicals are being increasingly linked to serious diseases and decreased fertility, but eliminating them from our lives is no easy feat. Fortunately, the state of Maine is leading by example and has passed a groundbreaking law that bans all PFAS in products by 2030.
Sarah Doll, the national director of Safer States says, “This policy sets a strong national precedent that sends a clear signal to industry that we need to move quickly toward safer chemistry and away from toxic chemicals like PFAS.”
Under the new law, there will be exceptions in cases where PFAS use is “currently unavoidable,” but manufacturers who sell in Maine will be required to report the use of these chemicals to state officials for approval of what is deemed unavoidable.
Want to learn more? Check out our excerpt from Count Down: How Our Modern World Is Threatening Sperm Counts, Altering Male and Female Reproductive Development, and Imperiling the Future of the Human Race and our interview with authors Shanna Swan, Ph.D. and Stacey Colino.
