Not All PFAS Are The Same; Its Now The MPCAs Job To Define Which Are Essential To Minnesotans Health And Economy
When Gov. Tim Walz signed HF 2310 into law last year, some observers described it as the most restrictive PFAS law in the country. From 2032, a ban on the unnecessary use of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as PFAS, will come into force.
While the bill exempts PFAS from items deemed essential to health and safety and currently provides no alternatives, the challenge now will be to identify and protect uses of PFAS that are essential to Minnesota's livelihoods. Life. . State economy. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency has this important role in determining “current unavoidable use” of PFAS.
The discussion around PFAS is as complex as any other chemical compound. The word “PFAS” has become synonymous with “harmful” or “hazardous,” but its chemical structure means it contains a combination of carbon and fluorine atoms. Scientists agree that not all PFAS are created equal and that not all PFAS pose a risk to human health or the environment.
According to the OECD, the definition of PFAS used in the bill, PFAS is “a broad, general and non-specific term that refers to whether a compound is harmful or not.” It is not surprising that there is such a misunderstanding. PFAS can include up to 14,000 chemical compounds that are technically PFAS under the broadest definitions, including some that are no longer used and others that have adverse public health effects. It is important to consider federal regulations recently published by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which state that the EPA uses a definition of more than 1,400 compounds, of which fewer than 800 are considered commercial.
It is important to follow EPA guidance in prioritizing commercially active compounds. Many of them make great contributions to society that cannot be ignored, and some are well studied and accepted for the benefit of humanity. For example, the pharmaceutical and medical industries use and produce many valuable products based on PFAS compounds. We can consider PFAS as an active ingredient in many FDA-approved pharmaceutical products (such as paxlovid) for the treatment of Covid-19. Additionally, antidepressants and some cardiovascular drugs that use PFAS as pharmaceutical ingredients provide lifesaving treatment to countless Americans every year.
As Minnesota strives to produce 100% carbon-free electricity by 2040, some PFAS compounds will play a critical role in the state's clean energy revolution. If the new law is not carefully implemented, these plans could be abandoned. Solar facilities and wind turbines use PFAS in the production process and for energy storage, and there are no suitable PFAS alternatives in the industry today that can support Minnesota's clean energy goals.
In addition to the social benefits we see from the responsible use of PFAS, we must recognize the economic consequences. According to a recent Inforum study, Minnesota industries linked to PFAS include aerospace, battery, refrigeration and air conditioning, automotive, medical and pharmaceutical, and semiconductor manufacturing, which support more than 26,000 jobs and more than $4.3 billion contribute to regional GDP. . Because there are no viable alternatives to PFAS for many industrial and consumer applications, a risk-based approach must be considered when classifying compounds as essential or nonessential to ensure Minnesota's economic sustainability.
It is important to note that Minnesota law requires the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to prioritize its actions based on risk. This is a positive political step. However, the law does not specify a standardized approach to the enforcement process. The agency should clarify how to establish a reasonable process focusing primarily on consumer products and establish a timeline for when and if the transition to important industrial applications will be possible. This analysis should focus first on key questions related to specific risks, rates and emissions.
The nonessential use exception included in Minnesota's recently enacted PFAS ban is also a positive step and will provide Minnesotans with the tools they need to identify and maintain sustainable uses of PFAS important to critical industries and consumers. Remain competitive in the global economy by improving people's health and well-being.
As Executive Director of the PFAS Sustainability Action Network (SPAN), Kevin Fay brings more than four decades of experience as a global environmental policy leader to stakeholders to support science-based, robust, and risk-resilient management. - Established. . PFAS at all levels of government.
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