Free subscription to the Capitol Journal keeps you current on legislative and regulatory news.
FDA Advisory Panel Supports Widening Access to Several Peptides Last week an advisory committee to the Food and Drug Administration voted in favor of allowing compounding pharmacies to produce six peptides...
OH EPA Scraps Proposed Data Center Water Discharge General Permit The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency announced in a community notice last week that after “carefully reviewing the significant...
California often leads other states on public policy. But on one particular issue currently before the California Legislature—the use of behavior-based telematics in auto insurance—it is following...
STATE NET® THOUGHT LEADERSHIP SERIES The rapid evolution of artificial intelligence (AI) has triggered an unprecedented building boom across the U.S. Behind every AI chatbot query, every cloud...
Data Centers to Increase Power Costs in 13 States by Billions Power costs for millions of households and businesses in 13 eastern states and the District of Columbia will increase by $6.3 billion within...
* The views expressed in externally authored materials linked or published on this site do not necessarily reflect the views of LexisNexis Legal & Professional.
STATE NET® THOUGHT LEADERSHIP SERIES
Nearly all Americans have detectable levels of synthetic chemicals known as PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) in their blood. These compounds are commonly known as “forever chemicals” because they break down very slowly and are difficult to avoid.
Why PFAS Are Drawing Regulatory Attention
PFAS are used to make coatings and products that resist heat, stains, oil, grease and water. They are found in everything from food packaging and firefighting foam to cosmetics and textiles. The Environmental Working Group, an advocacy organization, estimates that about 176 million people in the United States drink tap water contaminated by PFAS, based on its analysis of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency data.
The drinking-water findings are one indicator of how widespread PFAS exposure has become. The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, citing a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, stated that PFAS were found in the blood of 97% of Americans.
Researchers and regulators have long been concerned about the environmental harms of PFAS, but attention is increasingly turning to their potential health effects. Emerging research continues to expand the list of health impacts associated with PFAS, such as developmental delays in children, increased risk of certain cancers and higher rates of gestational diabetes. In April 2026, F&S Reviews, an official journal of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, published a narrative review finding growing evidence that PFAS exposure may affect female fertility, pregnancy and birth outcomes.
The potential economic toll of these health risks is substantial.
Download the latest State Net Capitol Journal thought leadership article to learn more.