PFAS, The New DDT?

PFAS, pronounced “Pee-fahs,” sounds like a made-up new-age word that was added to our vocabulary from an urban dictionary. However, these chemical substances are very real, and the threat they pose to our environment is not made up. 

On January 14, 2019 the PFAS Act 2019 was introduced into the House of Representatives, and thus introduced to the Senate after passing House on January 13, 2020. Subsequently, Governor Mike DeWine, on December 2, 2019 released a statewide action plan, announcing for all drinking water in Ohio to be analyzed for the prevalence of PFAS.

Ironically, on that very same day, 49 years ago, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was formed after Rachel Carson’s grueling book, “Silent Spring,” exposing the harmful effects of DDT. While, there is no evidence of PFAS falling into the same category as DDT- yet -these substances have alerted the attention of the EPA on a federal as well as state level, enough for their presence to be analyzed.

So, what are PFAS? How did these substances originate? Furthermore, how did these contaminants manage to pollute our soil and drinking water? Do we need to resurrect Rachel Carson, for another EPA, considering President Trump’s stand on the environment, the organization and its effectiveness as well as necessity for the country, let alone the planet?

I received the opportunity of speaking with Daniel Tierney, the Press Secretary to Governor Mike DeWine. Mr. Tierney answered these questions related to PFAS, including questions regarding Gov. DeWine’s order for the analysis of drinking water in Ohio, the role played by the EPA, and Ohio Department of Health (ODH) and the policy initiatives to be implemented with regards to these harmful substances.