By Sam Larson
Vice President of Government Affairs

PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a group of man-made chemicals that have been widely used for industrial and consumer products since the 1940s. They are valued for their ability to repel water, grease, and oil, making them useful in products like non-stick cookware, waterproof clothing, stain-resistant fabrics and firefighting foams.

More than 15,000 chemicals are classified as PFAS and they are essential to the function and creation of millions of products.

The concern with PFAS arises from their persistence in the environment and potential health effects. PFAS substances do not break down easily and can accumulate over time in the environment, including water, soil, and living organisms, including humans. Studies have linked exposure to PFAS with various health issues, though not all chemicals in the PFAS family are harmful.

The Massachusetts Legislature, responding to pressure from environmental groups, is considering a sweeping piece of legislation called H.2197/S.1356 “An Act to protect the public from PFAS” filed by Representative Kate Hogan (D-Stowe) and Senator Julian Cyr (D-Truro). The bill would ban consumer products or products with component parts that contain PFAS: Businesses would not be able to sell these products in the Commonwealth and manufacturers would not be able to produce them. The legislation also creates new, onerous testing requirements and grants broad enforcement powers to the state Department of Public Health who is charged with implementing the law.

AIM acknowledges the severity of the public-health issues associated with PFAS, particularly in municipal drinking water and among firefighters. Mitigating this issue will be a necessary yet expensive and complicated problem for years to come.

But a complete prohibition of any product containing any amount of PFAS is not feasible.

The legislation would significantly impact the ability of many AIM members to function. Cornerstone Massachusetts industries like manufacturing, life sciences, national defense, chemical producers, medical devices, food producers, grocery stores, semiconductors, and more would be forced to move or make massive changes to their operations. For many industries and products there are no feasible alternatives to PFAS.

AIM’s Government Affairs team has engaged key members of the Legislature to ensure that member voices are represented and that any PFAS regulations are reasonable. As a result of AIM’s efforts, the Legislature released a new draft of the bill that made several crucial changes. The legislation is far from complete and PFAS will still be a primary issue for the rest of the legislative session.

AIM has established a PFAS Working Group which meets monthly to address this legislation and other PFAS related issues. The group shares resources, information and sets AIM’s agenda on this issue.

If you think your business might be impacted by the legislation or wish to join the working group, please contact me at slarson@aimnet.org