Oregon Could Add Six Forever Chemicals to Hazardous List as Health Risks Spark New Regulations
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is adding six perfluoroalkyl and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) to its list of over 800 regulated contaminants as a precursor to creating regulations to limit exposure to them.
Public participation will take place in an online Zoom meeting.
Oregon’s Regulated Substances List To Include 6 PFASs
After almost two decades, the Environmental Quality Commission is expected to vote on or after May 21 to update Oregon’s list of regulated hazardous substances and adopt new regulations. The list was last updated in 2006.
Human-made PFASs are chemical chains generally used to make flame retardants, nonstick cookware, waterproof clothing, and other items. PFASs don’t break down or dissipate naturally and have leached into rivers and streams, contaminating soil, water, and air for decades.
After testing by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, researchers think PFASs are now in the blood of every person in the U.S. The chemical chain can lead to increased risks for cancers, heart damage, high cholesterol, congenital disabilities, and other debilitating health issues.
The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) also identified PFAS in 35 Oregon public drinking water systems, with 24 exceeding the EPA’s new drinking water standards for the compounds.
Other suspected sources of past or ongoing PFAS pollution in Oregon include 139 commercial airports that are or were required to maintain PFAS-containing firefighting foam, 18 municipal fire training facilities, 22 bulk fuel facilities, and 93 metal plating facilities.
Portland International Airport has already switched to using PFAS-free firefighting foam and has begun the initial stages of cleanup.
Senate Bill 91 was introduced into the Oregon legislature to ban PFAS from firefighting foam used on the ground by firefighters.
While the Senate voted to pass the bill almost unanimously in February, voting in the House has not yet been scheduled. Oregon also recently moved to ban PFAS chemicals by 2026, igniting debate over health risks and industry impact under House Bill 3512.
The public has been invited to participate in the PFAS legislation by emailing comments to [email protected]. Or joining the online Zoom meetings: