Action Alerts

Urge the EPA to regulate a long-hidden source of PFAS

What's At Stake

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking steps to tackle a long-hidden source of PFAS. PFAS (per and poly-fluoroalkyl substances) are toxic “forever chemicals” linked to a wide array of adverse health effects at extremely low levels. PFAS are found in a variety of everyday goods and have been detected in the blood of 97% of the United States population. Today, hundreds of millions of plastic containers undergo a fluorination process that creates harmful PFAS that can leach into our products and make their way into our bodies. Tell the EPA to regulate this source of PFAS today.

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The agency’s actions come after a coalition of advocates, including several groups represented by Earthjustice, petitioned the EPA under our nation’s chemical law to regulate PFAS created during the fluorination of plastic containers.

What is fluorination?

For more than 40 years, Inhance Technologies LLC has been using a fluorination process to create better barrier protection in high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic containers. During this process, the containers are blasted with fluorine gas, which reacts with oxygen and forms PFAS. The PFAS created then leach into the products stored in the containers and are released into the environment once the products are used or the plastic containers break down.

Each year, some 200 million plastic containers are fluorinated using this process. Many of these containers hold common household items like cleaning products and agricultural products like pesticides.

What can we do about it?

PFAS are dangerous even at extremely low levels of exposure, and EPA must act quickly to stop these chemicals from entering the market. Regulating the PFAS-creating fluorination process is a crucial step in eliminating a significant source of PFAS and protecting communities from these toxic chemicals.

There’s a comment period open right now until November 29th that needs your voice. Urge the EPA to take action today.

High-density polyethlyene containers treated with fluorinated compounds can leach PFAS into pesticides and other liquid products (Shutterstock)
High-density polyethlyene containers treated with fluorinated compounds can leach PFAS into pesticides and other liquid products (Shutterstock)

36 Days Remain

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Your Actions Matter

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Throughout each of the public comment periods we alert you to, Earthjustice’s attorneys are researching and writing in-depth, technical comments to submit — detailing how the regulation could and should be stronger to protect the environment, our communities, and our planet.

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