States Take a Closer Look at ‘Forever Chemicals’

States Take a Closer Look at 'Forever Chemicals'

Health risks and limited federal action are pushing states to weigh PFAS policy.

State lawmakers from both parties say concern over per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, commonly known as PFAS or "forever chemicals," is pushing legislatures to take a closer look at potential health and environmental risks-and how best to address them.

PFAS are a class of chemicals that have been used in consumer products and industrial processes for decades and are known for their persistence in the environment. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, exposure has been linked to a range of adverse health outcomes, including decreased fertility, high blood pressure, developmental delays and certain cancers.

In the latest installment of "State of Play," a bipartisan video series created by A Starting Point and NCSL, Colorado Sen. Lisa Cutter (D) and Kentucky Sen. Brandon Smith (R) discuss concerns over PFAS.

Cutter says PFAS contamination affects multiple parts of daily life. "It affects our land, our soil, our water, and therefore our human health," she says. "All of those reasons are compelling enough that we need to do something about it."

According to Smith, PFAS came to lawmakers' attention in his state through landfill-related issues. "Once you kind of look under the tent, you can see how big of a disaster this thing could be if it's not handled correctly," he says.

Both lawmakers pointed to gaps in federal action and the need for better data. Cutter says state-funded research can help fill that void. "Anytime that we can prove the impacts of something through research and data, that's going to be able to help us move forward," she says.

Smith agrees that much remains unknown. "This is one of those interviews that may not age well because so much is going to be learned about it over a period of time," he says. "So while I feel like we know quite a bit at this moment, tomorrow that could all change because there's so much about it that's contradictory."

On regulation, Cutter says national standards would be ideal but emphasized the role states can play in the meantime. Since 2023, 26 states have adopted more than 100 policies on PFAS contamination. Smith says successful state policies can inform broader efforts. "That information needs to be shared nationwide," he says. "It actually needs to be shared globally."

Watch the full video now.

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