Tag - PFAS

Discuss current threats to EPA’s PFAS national drinking water standards. Half of the U.S. population drinks PFAS-contaminated water. In April 2024, the EPA restricted six PFAS chemicals but has recently released a proposal to remove 4 of these PFAS from their regulatory standards. Patients are concerned about PFAS in their drinking water and in their bodies and nurses are well-positioned to advocate for better health protections and drinking water standards. With the EPA holding a virtual hearing for the PFAS drinking water proposed rules on July 7th, this webinar will focus on learning how to craft your comments and either testify virtually at the hearing or submit written comments by July 20, 2026. This webinar will underscore the importance of nurse testimony and the need for a health and science based approach to PFAS. This webinar will also review ANHE’s newly released and revised PFAS Guidance for Clinicians (referred to as ANHEs PFAS Toolkit).

PFAS have recently been recognized as contaminants in agriculture and are growing as a contaminant of concern for the food supply with PFAS contamination negatively impacting farmers and communities. PFAS are commonly known as ‘forever chemicals’ due to their extreme persistence in the environment and human body. PFAS cross the placental barrier, pass to the growing fetus, and are excreted in breast milk. PFAS have been linked with a wide range of health effects including high cholesterol, several cancers, infertility, and low birth weight. This webinar discusses how Maine’s farmers, policy-makers and scientists are collaborating to solve this problem. This webinar is intended to discuss the scope of PFAS exposure in Maine’s agricultural community. The webinar will also list resources for the clinician, including ANHE’s PFAS Toolkit, as well as discuss advocacy opportunities.