“Cost of Inaction–PFAS Project”

The increasing presence of the group of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in humans and the environment is becoming one of the most pressing chemicals issues of our time. PFAS are a class of widely used and persistent chemicals found in the bodies of virtually all humans today. Studies indicate that some of these PFAS can seriously compromise human health and wellbeing.

“The Cost of Inaction - PFAS Project” will document the hidden societal costs of PFAS production and use. The focus will be on two types of costs: (1) the environmental costs, ranging from the costs of cleaning up and replacing contaminated drinking water and agricultural soil to the costs of lost natural resources; and (2) the costs of the health impacts from our unavoidable exposure to these chemicals.

We have selected California as a case study state for the project and are working with a range of California officials to identify sources of PFAS exposure to drinking water in California and costs of remediation. Gretta Goldenman, co-author of the Nordic Council of Ministers report, Cost of Inaction - PFAS, and Director of International Health and Environment Studies at CBRC, is co-chair of this project.