polyfluoroalkyl or PFAS News

As Chips Race Spews ‘Forever Chemicals,’ Startups Emerge to Destroy Them

The battle for artificial intelligence supremacy hinges on microchips. But the semiconductor sector that produces them has a dirty secret: It’s a major source of chemicals linked to cancer and other health problems. Global chip sales surged more than 19% …

Report Found System Issues Prior to Firefighting Foam Spill at Airport

A fire suppression system at a Brunswick Executive Airport hangar showed deficiencies about a year before it discharged gallons of firefighting foam containing harmful chemicals in Maine’s biggest accidental spill of the fire suppressant on record, according to a recently …

Maine Schools Face Unique Challenges in Ridding Water of ‘Forever Chemicals’

Days before winter break ended in December 2022, Bill Hansen was relieved to learn that Jordan-Small Middle School in Raymond had no traces of ‘forever chemicals’ in tests of the school’s water system. Hansen, the Windham Raymond School District’s facilities …

Time-Tested Loss Reserving Methods Challenged: AM Best

Reflecting on one of the trends that surfaced as property/casualty insurers announced 2023 financial results recently, AM Best expects reserve strengthening for accident years 2015-2019 to continue, the rating agency said in a new report. As companies “finished reporting their …

Connecticut Residents Sue Kimberly-Clark Over PFAS Use That Firm Denies

Some of manufacturer Kimberly-Clark Corp.’s neighbors in New Milford, Connecticut believe the paper goods manufacturer has contaminated their soil and drinking water with PFAS chemicals. Three of them have filed a proposed class action claiming that contamination from the manufacturer’s …

Casualty Reinsurance Renewals See Modest Price Hikes Despite Social Inflation: AM Best

Reinsurers in general maintained adequate capacity for casualty programs, despite concerns about social inflation and some recent reserve strengthening actions, according to a report from AM Best. For reinsurers, a relatively stable economic environment in 2023, a long run of …

Top European Leaders Test Positive for Cancerous ‘Forever Chemicals’

Chemicals linked to severe health issues including cancer, infertility, birth defects and immune system disruptions are everywhere and no one is safe from them — not even top politicians, according to a campaign advocating for a European Union-wide ban. Former …

3M, DuPont Defeat Massive Class Action Over Forever Chemicals

A U.S. appeals court on Monday handed 3M, Corteva Inc subsidiary E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Co and other manufacturers of toxic so-called “forever chemicals” a big win in their fight against legal liability for the substances, rejecting a …

‘Forever Chemical’ Bans Face Hard Truth: Many Can’t Be Replaced

As lawmakers around the world weigh bans of cancer-linked “forever chemicals,” many manufacturers are pushing back, saying there often is no substitute for the compounds. Minnesota and Maine have passed legislation to effectively outlaw the use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl …

Chemours Faces Dutch Criminal Probe on Emitting Forever Chemicals

Chemours Co. and its legal predecessor E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co will face a Dutch criminal investigation for the potential harmful effects of emitting forever chemicals in the Netherlands. Prosecutors said it decided to start an investigation after …