Stop Toxic PFAS

The Maryland Department of Environment has found toxic PFAS “forever chemicals” in some of Maryland’s drinking water. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, there is no safe level of some PFAS in drinking water and exposure to PFAS chemicals, even in small amounts over time, has been linked to serious health effects including cancer, thyroid disruption and reduced vaccine response.

We’re calling on Governor Moore to protect our families by establishing strict limits for PFAS in waterways and drinking water and to hold polluting industries accountable for the environmental and public health damage they have caused. 

The “forever chemicals”

PFAS have been given the nickname “forever chemicals” because they don’t break down in our bodies or in the environment. So the more they get used, the more they build up and the bigger the risk they pose to our health. This is particularly concerning for our kids who could be exposed to these chemicals for decades to come.

Protecting children and families from PFAS exposure

States and industries are moving away from using these chemicals. Earlier this year, Maryland passed a new law to ban their use in food packaging and rugs and carpets and to switch to safer alternatives in firefighting foam. The military also has a plan to phase out their use. These are critical steps to stopping contamination, but now we need to clean up our water supply.

Maryland has no enforceable limit for PFAS contamination nor mandatory testing for PFAS in water, and unless we hold the polluting industries accountable for the environmental and public health damage the chemical industry has caused, Marylanders will be left to foot the bill for PFAS cleanup and public health costs related to PFAS exposure.

The manufacturing and use of these chemicals have created widespread contamination that is extremely difficult to clean up and will create health risks for years.

We’re calling on Governor Moore to:

• Protect our families by establishing strong, health protective limits for PFAS in waterways and drinking water.
• Routinely test for contamination in our waterways and drinking water and clean up contamination.
• Hold polluting industries accountable for the public health and environmental harm they have caused.

Tackling PFAS contamination long term

Ultimately, we need to stop using PFAS completely.

We also need stronger federal action on PFAS and to update our chemical regulations to ensure chemicals don’t make it to the market unless and until they are proven safe. To get there, we’ll need to win enough hearts and minds to the point of view that just because a chemical seems useful doesn’t mean it’s safe. That’s one more reason why our work to raise awareness and get people involved matters so much right now.

Protecting public health for 50 years

Over the past 50 years, Maryland PIRG and our national network have been leaders in protecting public health from exposure to toxic chemicals in our communities and drinking water.

We’ve helped eliminate toxic chemicals from art supplies and baby products, advocated for cleanup of toxic waste sites, and won toxics right-to-know laws.

Most recently, in Maryland we passed the George “Walter” Taylor Act to stop the use of PFAS chemicals in food packaging and rugs and carpets and to shift to safer alternatives in firefighting foam. We also helped pass the Family and Firefighter Protection Act to ban the use of toxic and ineffective flame-retardant chemicals in children’s products, furniture and mattresses. And we won the Safe School Drinking Water law to require all Maryland schools to test for and remediate lead in school drinking water.