Regulation of PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances) Across Multiple U.S. States

Several U.S. states are at the forefront of a nationwide movement to eliminate exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), coordinating a large and diverse coalition of advocates, policymakers, scientists, and representatives from communities most severely affected—aiming to influence public policy, corporate practices, and end-of-life management decisions for products containing these toxic chemicals. Their goal is to shut off the tap on this class of over 12,000 chemicals, clean up and protect affected communities, and transition to safer alternatives—ensuring safe food, air, and drinking water for all. All legislative and regulatory actions undertaken by state governments aim to phase out PFAS in consumer products, prevent contamination, and support safer alternatives. Current Status of PFAS Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have long been used by manufacturers for their oil- and water-repellent properties—but they also appear in hundreds of other applications. PFAS are linked to serious health problems, including cancer, hormonal disruption, immune system suppression, reduced vaccine response, and reproductive issues. PFAS are commonly found in cookware, cosmetics, food packaging, outdoor apparel, carpets, firefighting foams, and thousands of other products. These toxic compounds are also widely used in industrial processes and subsequently discharged into waterways. PFAS are known as 'forever chemicals' because they do not break down in the environment. PFAS contamination has been detected at more than 2,800 sites across all 50 U.S. states, forcing states and localities to spend hundreds of millions of dollars cleaning up PFAS pollution in communities and providing residents with safe drinking water. Meanwhile, PFAS manufacturers—including 3M and DuPont (now Chemours)—have posted record profits. Nearly every person in the United States carries PFAS in their bodies—including newborns’ blood, breast milk, and even umbilical cord blood. Due to their profound impacts on human health and the environment, scientists worldwide are urging governments to eliminate all PFAS types wherever possible. A 2022 report by the UN Human Rights Council urged countries to ban PFAS use. Ingestion of PFAS One of the earliest routes of PFAS exposure was from Teflon-coated cookware—but today, exposure is ubiquitous. It occurs via takeout containers and…

EPA’s Updated PFAS 'Universe Map'—Now Includes Nearly 15,000 PFAS Chemicals

Systematic Evidence Map of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS). We applied a systematic evidence mapping approach to summarize existing epidemiological and animal bioassay evidence for approximately 15,000 PFAS identified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure (CCTE). This work extends our prior Systematic Evidence Maps (SEMs) conducted in 2022 and 2024, which cataloged evidence for roughly 500 PFAS (Carlson et al., 2022; Radke et al., 2022; Carlson et al., 2024) and mapped evidence for an additional 345 PFAS in 2023 (Shirke et al., 2024). The comprehensive PFAS Dashboard integrates evidence from our previous SEMs and completed EPA assessments. This dataset is associated with the following publication: Shirke, A., E. Radke, R. Jones, B. Allen, C. Lin, A. Ross, N. Vetter, C. Lemeris, P. Hartman, S. Eftim, A. Varghese, R. Blain, H. Hubbard, A. Williams, K. Thayer, and L. Carlson. Systematic Evidence Map of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS).

North Carolina secures $455 million PFAS settlement, plus $135 million cleanup reserve

Sep 11, 2026

North Carolina secured a $590 million agreement from Chemours, DuPont, and Corteva for PFAS pollution cleanup and drinking water protection. The settlement allocates $455 million in damages and a $135 million reserve to address contamination from the Fayetteville Works plant.

WRAL

2026-07-30

NC Leaders Push Back on EPA-Chemours PFAS Deal

2026-07-30

NC Leaders Urge Court to Reject EPA’s PFAS Deal with Chemours

2026-07-31

State leaders urge court to reject EPA-Chemours PFAS settlement

2026-08-12

Gov. Stein, AG Jackson oppose Chemours, EPA 'deal'

2026-09-11

North Carolina secures $455 million PFAS settlement, plus $135 million cleanup reserve

North Carolina secures $455 million PFAS settlement, plus $135 million cleanup reserve

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