Could we filter PFAS?

PFAS resist most chemical and microbial treatment technologies. The most effective ways to filter PFAS out of drinking water are activated carbon absorption, exchange resins, and reverse osmosis. Unfortunately, these kinds of filtering technologies are expensive and resource-intensive, so it makes more sense to just ban the chemicals.

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What has the US done?

The EPA has made progress towards banning PFAS, but the research into these chemicals is relatively new. Additionally, PFAS are a multibillion-dollar industry, so there are many organizations that do not want these polymers to be banned. In 2020, the EPA strengthened the regulation of PFAS by requiring notice and approval before any production of PFAS begins. This ruling also mandated that imports that could contain PFAS must be reviewed and approved by the EPA. This was the broadest legislation involving PFAS since 2002.

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What has Europe been doing?

• Many international organizations have pressured their respective countries to ban PFAS.
• Five European nations will formally propose to ban the production, trade and use of PFAS by July 2022.
  
• The EU has regulates nonessential (mostly cosmetic) PFOAS under Annex II of the IED, but there are exceptions for essential uses, such as in medical or protective products. Environmental groups generally do not believe that the EU is being strict enough on PFAS.

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