On 30 May 2024 the Governor of Vermont signed bill S.25, which regulates consumer products containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) or other chemicals. The bill took effect on 1 July 2024 and is implemented in phases from that date. Its passage marks an important step by Vermont in protecting the environment and public health.

The main changes made by the bill are shown below.

Notes

1. Cookware means durable household goods used to prepare, serve or store food, foodstuffs or beverages and that come into direct contact with food, including pots, pans, frying pans, grills, baking sheets, baking moulds, trays, bowls and cooking utensils.

2. Juvenile product means a product designed for or sold for use by an infant or a child under 12 years of age, including infant or toddler foam pillows, cradles, bedside sleepers, booster seats, changing pads, infant bouncers, infant carriers, infant seats, infant sleep positioners, infant swings, infant travel beds, infant walkers, nap cots, nursing pads, nursing pillows, play mats, play yards, playpens, polyurethane foam mats, pads or pillows, portable foam nap mats, portable infant sleep beds, portable hook-on chairs, soft sided portable cribs, strollers and toddler mattresses, and disposable diapers. It does not include children's electronic products, including personal computers, audio and video equipment, calculators, wireless phones, game consoles, handheld devices with video screens or any related peripherals such as mice, keyboards, power supply units or power cords; medical devices; or adult mattresses.

3. Textile means textile goods customarily used in households and businesses, including clothing, accessories, handbags, backpacks, draperies, shower curtains, furnishings, upholstery, beddings, towels, napkins and tablecloths. Textile does not include:

Vehicles or their parts as defined in 1 U.S.C. section 4;
Vessels or their parts as defined in 1 U.S.C. section 3;
Aircraft or their parts as defined in 49 U.S.C. section 40102(a)(6);
Filter media or filter products used in industrial applications, including chemical or pharmaceutical manufacturing and environmental control technology;
Textiles used for laboratory analysis and testing;
Carpets or rugs.

What are PFAS?

PFAS, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are man made chemicals built from carbon and fluorine atoms. Because they are highly water repellent, corrosion resistant and heat resistant, they are widely used in textiles, food packaging, non-stick coatings, firefighting foam and outdoor clothing.

Why PFAS are hazardous

PFAS are linked to a range of health problems including liver damage, hypothyroidism, immune system disruption and reproductive problems. Substances such as PFOS and PFOA have long half lives in the human body and accumulate in the liver, kidneys and blood, and may increase cancer risk. Their use therefore requires caution and measures to reduce their environmental and human impact.

The main hazards are:

1. Very high stability, poor biodegradability and long term environmental contamination.
2. High bioaccumulation, with accumulation in liver and kidneys leading to health problems.
3. Association with many health issues including thyroid disease, liver damage, reduced immunity and increased cancer risk.

PFAS therefore require strict control to limit their impact on the environment and human health.

NTEK PFAS testing capability

Ion chromatography (IC). The sample is heated in a combustion furnace so that the target substances are converted to fluoride ions, and the total fluorine or extractable organic fluorine content of the solution is then measured by ion chromatography.

Liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). After sample preparation, the substances are separated by liquid chromatography and identified and quantified by tandem mass spectrometry.

Gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS). After appropriate pre-treatment, the substances are separated by gas chromatography and identified and quantified by mass spectrometry.