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Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)

Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) represent a category of thousands of chemicals that are widely used in manufacturing and consumer products. PFAS are used in a wide range of products across almost every industrial sector to add water, stain, and oil repellency, chemical and temperature resistance, friction reduction, and surfactant properties. This class of chemicals is often described as “forever chemicals” because they never fully break down in the environment. PFAS have been detected in drinking water, and affect the endocrine and metabolic system, including the liver and thyroid. 

On December 7, 2021, the TURA Administrative Council finalized the vote to add certain Per- and Poly-fluoroalkyl Substances Not Otherwise Listed (PFAS NOL) to the TURA List of Toxic or Hazardous Substances. Read the news release.

PFAS Tracking Resources for Companies

View this web page to find resources that will help you identify and track uses of Certain PFAS Not Otherwise Listed (PFAS NOL)" category.

More Information About PFAS

In August 2021, MassDEP issued an advisory for firefighting Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) containing PFAS.

Below are resources prepared by the TURA program and links to resources from federal, state, and other sources. View our Science Advisory Board (SAB) page to learn more about the TURA SAB’s review of scientific data on PFAS.

Information prepared by the TURA Program

Content Category Publication Type Title Year Description
Guidance Guidance Doc Guidance for Reporting PFAS under TURA 2022 This guidance is to assist MA companies who may need to report annually on their use of individually listed PFAS and the certain PFAS not otherwise listed (NOL) category.
Policy Policy Analysis Per- and Poly-fluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS): Policy Analysis  2021 This document analyzes the implications of adding a substance category, Per- and PolyFluoroalkyl Substances Not Otherwise Listed (PFAS NOL), to the TURA list of Toxic or Hazardous Substances (TURA List).
Overview Presentation and Webinar PFAS NOL Listing: What You Need to Know: Presentation slide deck (pdf) Recording 2021 This presentation/webinar was originally presented at TURI’s Fall 2021 Continuing Education Conference and covers PFAS Not Otherwise Listed (NOL) reporting requirements and how to identify sources of PFAS in your facility.
Overview Webinar Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS): Introduction and Update 2020 Briefing presented to MA legislators in July 2020. Includes an overview of PFAS chemicals, including classification into a group, and an introduction to  the TURA program’s work on PFAS.
Artificial turf Fact sheet PFAS in Artificial Turf Carpet  2020 This brief fact sheet provides some basic background information on PFAS and on recent testing for these chemicals in artificial turf as reported by nonprofit organizations. 
Overview Webinar The PFAS Universe  2019 TURI and the IC2 (Interstate Chemicals Clearinghouse) co-sponsored a webinar to help inform SAB members and others about the universe of PFAS chemicals, their uses and degradation pathways.

Information from other sources

Source Title Year Description
OECD Portal on Per and Polyfluorinated Chemicals Updated 2020 This site includes a wide variety of PFAS resources, including a link to OECD’s Global Database of PFAS.
Cancer Free Economy PFAS in Drinking Water: What You Need to Know 2021 Fact sheet prepared by Silent Spring Institute and the Lowell Center for Sustainable Production on PFAS in drinking water.
ITRC PFAS Technical and Regulatory Guidance Document  2020 Includes a description of the primary state and U.S. federal programs that are being used to regulate PFAS; summary of current regulatory and guidance values for PFAS in groundwater, drinking water, surface water/effluent, and soil; and information on the basis for differences between various drinking water criteria for PFOA and PFOS.
ITRC Technical resources for addressing environmental  released of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)  Updated 2020 This Interstate Technology and Regulatory Council (ITRC) online document includes the PFAS Technical and Regulatory Guidance Document, PFAS Fact Sheets and Explainer Videos, Training Module Videos and external tables of data and information prepared by the ITRC PFAS Team.
Plastics Industry Association, Fluoropolymers Division Guide to safer handling of fluoropolymer resins  2019 Guide to safer handling of fluoropolymer resins.
Safer States List of state-led PFAS policies in the United States No Date List and descriptions of current state policies focused on controlling PFAS use and exposures.
Clean Water Fund PFAS infographic and fact sheet 2020 These resources were created by the Clean Water Fund with support from a TURI community grant.
FEDERAL
EPA Research on Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)  Updated 2020 PFAS Overview page with links to current research, toxicity assessments, and other information.
EPA TRI Reporting and New Requirements for PFAS, Webinar 2020 An overview of Toxics Release Inventory reporting, additional guidance resources, and information related to the recent additions of 172 PFAS to the TRI list of chemicals.
ATSDR Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)  and Your Health Updated 2020 Information on human exposure to PFAS is a public health concern
ATSDR Toxics Substances Portal: Toxicological Profile for Perfluoroalkyls  2019 The ATSDR toxicological profile characterizes the toxicology and adverse health effects information for the toxic substance described therein. Each peer-reviewed profile identifies and reviews the key literature that describes a substance's toxicological properties.
STATE
Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Updated 2020 Overview and information specific to Massachusetts, including map of contamination sites.
California Environmental Contaminant Biomonitoring Program (Biomonitoring California)

Potential Designated Chemicals: Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFASs)

 

2015 Meeting of the Scientific Guidance Panel Biomonitoring California, information to consider recommending the addition of the entire class of PFASs to the list of designated chemicals for Biomonitoring California.
New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NHDES) NH PFAS Investigation  Updated 2020 This website is used to update interested parties on NHDES’ current investigation into the presence of  PFAS in New Hampshire, plus public information and resources