On August 22nd, Governor Evers signed Executive Order #40, which is dedicated to monitoring and reducing the presence of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances, or PFAS, in Wisconsin. These human-made chemicals are found in fire-fighting foam, non-stick pans, stain-resistant fabric and other products, and once in use easily transfer to groundwater, where they remain indefinitely, as Order #40 states. That’s cause for concern, given that exposure to PFAS has been linked to immune system damage, high cholesterol and digestive system problems, and kidney and testicular cancer.
Order #40 calls for collaboration from the Department of Natural Resources, the Department of Health Services, and the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection to take strong and swift action on PFAS. These departments will be responsible for educating the public about the risk of PFAS and identifying opportunities to address and clean up contamination. In addition, Order #40 calls for monitoring PFAS levels in fish and wildlife, tracking sources of PFAS through screening programs at wastewater treatment facilities, and modifying a law to make companies responsible for their own chemical cleanup.
In response to Order #40, Eric Uram, National Chair of Sierra Club’s Toxics Committee, stated: “We know enough about the dangers of many PFAS chemicals to act. Just like PCBs, dioxin and mercury in the past, with PFAS, the current and growing scientific understanding demands action.”
Although several contamination sites have been detected in Wisconsin, the full extent of PFAS contamination is unknown. It’s impossible to determine how many people are affected, or how much damage PFAS contamination is causing to wildlife and waterways.
“Governor Evers’ Executive Order is the critical first step for us to be able to get ahead of this ongoing crisis. Wisconsin needs to act before current and future PFAS uses and pollution create even greater impacts on our resources and residents,” Uram stated.
For more information about products that contain PFAS and how to avoid them, visit: https://toxicfreefuture.org/science/chemicals-of-concern/pfas-nonstick-nightmare/.