PFAS and Plastic Updates
We previously posted on PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) in a News post and on the Clinician’s Corner page. Here are some updates.
Data released in May 2023, not yet formally peer-reviewed or published, showed PFAS in contact lenses at very high concentrations. It isn’t known if the PFAS from the soft contact lenses is released or absorbed into tissues or blood. So far there are no official recommendations about what to do about this. So, it is currently a matter of an individual’s feelings about taking a risk that is undetermined when deciding whether to continue using contact lenses that have PFAS. Hopefully more research will be done.
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been taking some action on PFAS. In March 2023 the EPA took a step toward enforcing levels of six PFAS in drinking water. In addition, states have been trying to step in with the fight against PFAS pollution. From The Guardian:
“Maine has gone several steps further with a ban on all non-essential uses of PFAS, and the momentum continues this session in 33 states where legislation has been introduced. Vermont’s senate unanimously approved a ban on the chemicals in cosmetics, textiles and artificial turf.”
The article goes on to say that many companies are taking notice:
“Among a cascade of companies moving away from the compounds in some or all products are Patagonia, Victoria’s Secret, Target, Home Depot, Lowe’s, Ralph Lauren, Zara, H&M, Abercrombie & Fitch, Calvin Klein, Burberry, Tommy Hilfiger, McDonald’s, Burger King, Rite Aid, Amazon, Starbucks, Whole Foods, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut.
“Sephora, Revolution Beauty and Target are among those in the cosmetic and personal care sector that have announced phase-outs of PFAS.
“In December, 3M, perhaps the world’s largest PFAS producer, announced it would discontinue making the chemicals…”
Along the related lines of plastic pollution, we have posted about goals for cleaning up plastic before. and now the United Nations released a report on May 16, 2023: “Turning off the Tap: How the world can end plastic pollution and create a circular economy.”
From the report Summary:
This report provides a “compass” for governments and an action plan for businesses to end plastic pollution by 2040:
· Slashing plastic pollution by 80%.
· Halving single-use plastics production.
· Net-saving and avoided externalities of USD 4.5 trillion by 2040.
· Creating 700,000 jobs, mostly in low-income countries.
· The compass relies only on technologies and solutions that already exist but requires urgent simultaneous action across borders. A five-year delay in executing the necessary shifts mean higher costs and additional 80 million metric tons of plastic pollution by 2040.
· An integrated approach to regulatory instruments and policies tackling actions across the life cycle is crucial as these then reinforce each other towards the goal of transforming the economy:
o Reducing the size of the problem by eliminating unnecessary and problematic plastic uses.
o Three market shifts–reuse, recycle, and reorient and diversify.
o Dealing with plastic’s legacy that can’t be eliminated, reused, recycled, or replaced.
• For each necessary shift (reuse, recycle, reorient and diversify), the report accounts for likely implications on polymer and chemical producers, plastic converters, brands/manufacturers, retailers, governments, consumers, waste pickers, waste management companies, and recycling companies.
One can dare to dream!