Getting Ahead of Emerging Contaminants with the Class Concept

Bruton, Thomas

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/103964 Copy

Description

Title

Getting Ahead of Emerging Contaminants with the Class Concept

Author(s)

Bruton, Thomas

Issue Date

2019-05-21

Keyword(s)

• PFAS
• per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances

Abstract

Growing concern about the presence of highly fluorinated chemicals (PFAS) in drinking water has brought increased recognition of broader emerging contaminants issues. Policy makers and the public are gaining a newfound appreciation for the multitude of little-studied and unregulated industrial chemicals to which we are routinely exposed. For some emerging contaminants, gains in scientific understanding have outpaced development of new regulations. Many more contaminants remain largely unstudied. The traditional risk management approach that deals with substances individually is time-consuming and poorly suited to address the large volume of chemicals that needs to be addressed. In response, there is a growing interest in using class-based approaches for chemicals management. This talk will use the case of PFAS to highlight the utility of (and challenges associated with) class-based chemicals management. Examples will include initiatives at the local, state, and international levels to regulate PFAS in products and in drinking water, as well as efforts by manufacturers to reduce their reliance on this class of chemicals.

Series/Report Name or Number

2019 Emerging Contaminants in the Environment Conference (ECEC19)

Type of Resource

text

Language

en

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http://hdl.handle.net/2142/103964

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