SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The California Assembly today advanced Assembly Bill 2247, a measure to collect and report on the products and substances sold in the state and brought into California that contain the toxic “forever chemicals” known as PFAS.
“A.B. 2247 will help us accurately identify how many PFAS are coming into California,” said Assemblymember Richard Bloom (D-Santa Monica). “Giving the state the authority to collect this data will enable us to explore how best to mitigate its harmful impacts. Without this information, we cannot take meaningful steps toward protecting the health of Californians and our environment in the long-term.”
Bloom authored A.B. 2247, with state Senator Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica) and Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) as coauthors.
The state needs to know how many PFAS are sold in and entering California and in what form to regulate these toxic compounds and prevent further human or environmental exposure. Local governments, water treatment services and businesses must know the sources of PFAS to better manage contamination and ensure the public isn’t unnecessarily exposed.
“These toxic chemicals live forever in our water, our food and our bodies,” said Allen, who chairs the Senate Environmental Quality Committee. “We must understand where PFAS are coming from if we can hope to reduce their harmful effects.”
If it becomes law, A.B. 2247 would require manufacturers to disclose, in a publicly accessible database, PFAS intentionally added to products sold in or imported into California, and information on the type and quantity of PFAS compound they contain.
The California Department of Toxic Substances Control will work with the Interstate Chemicals Clearinghouse to create and maintain the new PFAS database, which will be available by July 1, 2025, and help reduce and clean up PFAS contamination. The clearinghouse is an association of state, local, and tribal governments that promotes the use of safer chemicals and products.
“PFAS are harmful to the health and well-being of all Californians,” said Bloom. “It’s unconscionable that PFAS are polluting our drinking water systems and impacting some of our most vulnerable communities.”
PFAS are found in the blood of virtually everyone, including newborn babies. Very low doses of PFAS have been linked to suppression of the immune system, including reduced vaccine efficacy. These chemicals harm development and the reproductive system, such as reduced birth weight and impacts on fertility; increased risk of certain cancers; and effects on metabolism, such as changes in cholesterol and weight gain.
A.B. 2247 is sponsored by the Environmental Working Group, the California Association of Sanitation Agencies and Clean Water Action.
“California needs a clear understanding of where toxic PFAS are coming from,” said Susan Little, EWG’s senior advocate for government affairs. “It is long past time we turned off the tap on PFAS pollution. We must learn where the contamination is coming from to prevent more of these ‘forever chemicals’ from getting into our water, food and air.”
“Wastewater agencies are proactively looking for solutions to limit the amount of PFAS that enters our watersheds,” said Adam Link, executive director of the California Association of Sanitation Agencies.
“We need to have data about the sources of PFAS entering our waterways in order to make informed management decisions. A.B. 2247 is an important first step toward the end goal of developing a comprehensive PFAS pollution prevention approach, and we applaud Assemblymember Bloom for authoring this important bill,” Link said.
“When virtually every Californian has toxic PFAS in their body, babies are born with them, and the chemicals are detected in our water systems serving 16 million people, we cannot continue to be in the dark about where these chemicals are coming from and how they enter the environment,” said Andria Ventura, legislative and policy director at Clean Water Action.
“Regulators, water agencies, elected officials, consumers and businesses need this crucial PFAS data to best manage these forever chemicals,” she added.
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The Environmental Working Group is a nonprofit, non-partisan organization that empowers people to live healthier lives in a healthier environment. Through research, advocacy and unique education tools, EWG drives consumer choice and civic action. https://www.ewg.org/
The California Association of Sanitation Agencies represents more than 125 local public agencies engaged in the collection, treatment and recycling of wastewater and biosolids to protect public health and the environment. CASA provides trusted information and advocacy on behalf of California clean water agencies, and to be a leader in sustainability and utilization of renewable resources. https://casaweb.org/
Clean Water Action is a nonprofit organization that works to protect our environment, health, economic well-being and community quality of life. Clean Water Action organizes strong grassroots groups and coalitions, and campaigns to elect environmental candidates and to solve environmental and community problems. https://www.cleanwater.org/
