Key Teflon Chemical: Center of Lawsuits and Debates

PFOA is also disturbingly ubiquitous in the blood of the general population in the United States, and pervasive throughout the environment, even appearing in Arctic animals2 In February 2006, researchers at Johns Hopkins University found PFOA present in the umbilical cord blood of 99 percent of 300 newborn infants. The chemical is bioaccumulative, meaning it remains in human bodies and in the environment for an extended period of time

The Spinnaker Vol. 30 No. 16

Student newspaper for the UNF community

Omnipresent Chemicals: TSCA Preemption in the Wake of PFAS Contamination

Over the past few decades, studies addressing the harms of PFAS have gradually progressed, and now scientists believe increased exposure could lead to reproductive defects and a higher risk of cancer. Given the amplified concern surrounding these pervasive chemicals, states are proactively filing lawsuits on behalf of their citizens and enacting legislation to combat this nation-wide contamination epidemic. However, given the 2016 Amendment to the Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976, states looking to regulate the manufacturing or looking to ratify a state- wide ban on the manufacturing of such chemicals may face preemption under actions taken by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. This Note focuses on the possible loss of state autonomy with regards to PFAS regulation. It addresses the issues states might face given the restrictive nature of the newly enacted preemption provisions of the Toxic Substances Control Act, while also examining the Act’s possible deficiencies. Ultimately, recognizing a need for creative solutions outside the scope of manufacturing regulations may provide the best solutions for states to combat these ubiquitous chemicals

Me-FAS, You-FAS, We All Eat PFAS: What To Do About the Forever Chemical

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl, more commonly known as PFAS, has been found in the blood of 95% of the population. PFAS is a family of over 3,000 human-made chemicals. One chemical in the PFAS family, PFOA, is most well-known for its use in Teflon products and has been the subject of multiple litigations. While PFOA has been phased out of production in the United States due to its known negative human health effects, other PFAS that are just as harmful are now used in place of PFOA. The molecular structure of PFAS contains strong bonds that are difficult to break down through natural processes. This characteristic makes PFAS both extremely helpful to industrial processes and harmful to human health and the environment. Because of its resiliency, PFAS remain in the environment long after initial release. Its stability and endurance have led scientists to dub PFAS as “the forever chemical.” This Note explores the history of PFAS production in the United States and concludes with potential regulatory action that can be taken to limit human exposure to PFAS

Inactivation of murine norovirus on a range of copper alloy surfaces is accompanied by loss of capsid integrity

Norovirus is one of the most common causes of acute viral gastroenteritis. The virus is spread via the fecal-oral route, most commonly from infected food and water, but several outbreaks have originated from contamination of surfaces with infectious virus. In this study, a close surrogate of human norovirus causing gastrointestinal disease in mice, murine norovirus type 1 (MNV-1), retained infectivity for more than 2 weeks following contact with a range of surface materials, including Teflon (polytetrafluoroethylene [PTFE]), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), ceramic tiles, glass, silicone rubber, and stainless steel. Persistence was slightly prolonged on ceramic surfaces. A previous study in our laboratory observed that dry copper and copper alloy surfaces rapidly inactivated MNV-1 and destroyed the viral genome. In this new study, we have observed that a relatively small change in the percentage of copper, between 70 and 80% in copper nickels and 60 and 70% in brasses, had a significant influence on the ability of the alloy to inactivate norovirus. Nickel alone did not affect virus, but zinc did have some antiviral effect, which was synergistic with copper and resulted in an increased efficacy of brasses with lower percentages of copper. Electron microscopy of purified MNV-1 that had been exposed to copper and stainless steel surfaces suggested that a massive breakdown of the viral capsid had occurred on copper. In addition, MNV-1 that had been exposed to copper and treated with RNase demonstrated a reduction in viral gene copy number. This suggests that capsid integrity is compromised upon contact with copper, allowing copper ion access to the viral genome

Silicone Applicator Cleaning Improvement

Cardinal Glass is a residential glass manufacturer for doors and windows. Cardinal glass was first founded in 1962 by a man named M.L. Gordon. Today, they employ 6,000 employees across 37 manufacturing plants throughout the United States. The Greenfield, Iowa, plant distributes to local large window manufacturers. Cardinal Glass is separated into five divisions. They are as followed:FG- Float & High Volume Tempered Glass; CT- Custom Tempered Glass; LG- Laminated Glass; CG- coated glass and optical mirrors; and IG- Insulating Glass. The Client is experiencing problems with silicone curing in applicator tips due to lack of a better process. The silicone cured tips are causing re-work that is costing the company thousands of dollars in labor

Private Drinking Water Wells as a Source of Exposure to Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) in Communities Surrounding a Fluoropolymer Production Facility

BACKGROUND: The C8 Health Project was established in 2005 to collect data on perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA, or C8) and human health in Ohio and West Virginia communities contaminated by a fluoropolymer production facility. OBJECTIVE: We assessed PFOA exposure via contaminated drinking water in a subset of C8 Health Project participants who drank water from private wells. METHODS: Participants provided demographic information and residential, occupational, and medical histories. Laboratory analyses were conducted to determine serum-PFOA concentrations. PFOA data were collected from 2001 through 2005 from 62 private drinking water wells. We examined the relationship between drinking water and PFOA levels in serum using robust regression methods. As a comparison with regression models, we used a first-order, single-compartment pharmacokinetic model to estimate the serum:drinking-water concentration ratio at steady state. RESULTS: The median serum PFOA concentration in 108 study participants who used private wells was 75.7 μg/L, approximately 20 times greater than the levels in the U.S. general population but similar to those of local residents who drank public water. Each 1 μg/L increase in PFOA levels in drinking water was associated with an increase in serum concentrations of 141.5 μg/L (95% confidence interval, 134.9-148.1). The serum:drinking-water concentration ratio for the steady-state pharmacokinetic model was 114. CONCLUSIONS: PFOA-contaminated drinking water is a significant contributor to PFOA levels in serum in the study population. Regression methods and pharmacokinetic modeling produced similar estimates of the relationship