{"id":620266,"date":"2024-05-13T09:00:30","date_gmt":"2024-05-13T06:00:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/inside-the-fight-to-ban-and-destroy-pfas-forever-chemicals-2\/"},"modified":"2024-05-13T09:00:30","modified_gmt":"2024-05-13T06:00:30","slug":"inside-the-fight-to-ban-and-destroy-pfas-forever-chemicals-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/inside-the-fight-to-ban-and-destroy-pfas-forever-chemicals-2\/","title":{"rendered":"#Inside the fight to ban \u2014 and destroy \u2014 PFAS \u2018forever chemicals\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a50b513cdabe\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a50b513cdabe\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/inside-the-fight-to-ban-and-destroy-pfas-forever-chemicals-2\/#Destroying_forever_chemicals_forever\" >Destroying forever chemicals, forever \u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/inside-the-fight-to-ban-and-destroy-pfas-forever-chemicals-2\/#Pressure_mounts\" >Pressure mounts<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/inside-the-fight-to-ban-and-destroy-pfas-forever-chemicals-2\/#%E2%80%98Critical_to_decarbonisation\" >\u2018Critical to decarbonisation\u2019\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/inside-the-fight-to-ban-and-destroy-pfas-forever-chemicals-2\/#The_case_for_broad_restriction\" >The case for broad restriction\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/inside-the-fight-to-ban-and-destroy-pfas-forever-chemicals-2\/#Finding_and_scaling_PFAS_alternatives\" >Finding and scaling PFAS alternatives\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/inside-the-fight-to-ban-and-destroy-pfas-forever-chemicals-2\/#A_long_road_ahead\" >A long road ahead<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<div id=\"article-main-content\">\n                            <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For over 40 years, Ted Van der Vlies and his wife Marga grew fruits and vegetables in their backyard on the outskirts of Dordrecht, the Netherlands. Onions, potatoes, lettuce, carrots, rhubarb, cherries, you name it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Little did they know that their homegrown produce was likely poisoning them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Just a kilometre away from their garden sits the tangled mesh of steel pipes, giant vats, and smokestacks of the Chemours chemical plant. A recent <\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.dutchnews.nl\/2023\/09\/chemours-plant-kept-info-about-emissions-secret-court-says\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">court case<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> found that the American conglomerate knowingly dumped PFAS chemicals into the environment around Dordrecht for decades.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS for short, are a group of more than 10,000 man-made chemicals famed for their water, heat, and oil resistant properties. They are found in thousands of products, from microchips and firefighting foam to food packaging and non-stick cookware.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"inarticle-wrapper latest channel-cta hs-embed-tnw\">\n<div id=\"hs-embed-tnw\" class=\"channel-cta-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"channel-cta-img\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"js-lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/events.tnw\/hardfork-2018\/uploads\/visuals\/tnw-newsletter.png\"\/><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/events.tnw\/hardfork-2018\/uploads\/visuals\/tnw-newsletter.png\"\/><\/p>\n<div class=\"channel-cta-input\">\n<p class=\"channel-cta-title\">The &lt;3 of EU tech<\/p>\n<p class=\"channel-cta-tagline\">The latest rumblings from the EU tech scene, a story from our wise ol&#8217; founder Boris, and some questionable AI art. It&#8217;s free, every week, in your inbox. Sign up now!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While extremely useful, PFAS take thousands of years to break down in nature \u2014 lending them the name \u201cforever chemicals.\u201d Researchers have linked PFAS to decreased fertility, birth defects, and a multitude of<\/span> <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/dceg.cancer.gov\/research\/what-we-study\/pfas\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">cancers<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The levels of PFAS in Van der Vlies\u2019 blood are dozens of times above the safety standard, Dutch documentary producer <\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=y3kzHc-eV88\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Zembla<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> reports. He is seriously ill. He has both skin cancer and chronic leukaemia. Van der Vlies is adamant his condition was the result of drinking water and eating vegetables contaminated with the forever chemicals.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<figure class=\"post-image post-mediaBleed aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-1406495 size-full js-lazy\" alt=\"chemours-chemical-plant-dordrecht-pfas\" width=\"1638\" height=\"865\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1638px) 100vw, 1638px\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/05\/chemours-chemical-plant-dordrecht-pfas.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/05\/chemours-chemical-plant-dordrecht-pfas.jpg 1638w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/05\/chemours-chemical-plant-dordrecht-pfas-280x148.jpg 280w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/05\/chemours-chemical-plant-dordrecht-pfas-256x135.jpg 256w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/05\/chemours-chemical-plant-dordrecht-pfas-511x270.jpg 511w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/05\/chemours-chemical-plant-dordrecht-pfas-1536x811.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/05\/chemours-chemical-plant-dordrecht-pfas-796x420.jpg 796w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/05\/chemours-chemical-plant-dordrecht-pfas-1592x841.jpg 1592w\"\/><figcaption><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"#\" data-url=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Feditorial.thenextweb.com%2Fdeep-tech%2F2024%2F05%2F13%2Fstartups-fight-to-ban-destroy-pfas-forever-chemicals-with-tech%2F&amp;via=thenextweb&amp;related=thenextweb&amp;text=Check out this picture on: The Chemours chemical plant in Dordrecht, the Netherlands, as seen from other side of the Beneden Merwede river. Credit: Paul van de Velde\/Wikimedia Creative Commons\" data-title=\"Share The Chemours chemical plant in Dordrecht, the Netherlands, as seen from other side of the Beneden Merwede river. Credit: Paul van de Velde\/Wikimedia Creative Commons on Twitter\" data-width=\"685\" data-height=\"500\" class=\"post-image-share popitup\" title=\"Share The Chemours chemical plant in Dordrecht, the Netherlands, as seen from other side of the Beneden Merwede river. Credit: Paul van de Velde\/Wikimedia Creative Commons on Twitter\"><i class=\"icon icon--inline icon--twitter--dark\"\/><\/a>The Chemours chemical plant in Dordrecht, the Netherlands, as seen from other side of the Beneden Merwede river. Credit: Paul van de Velde\/Wiki<a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/social-mediaa\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"1\" title=\"Social Media\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">media<\/a> Creative Commons<span style=\"font-size: 16px;\"\/><\/figcaption><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-1406495 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/05\/chemours-chemical-plant-dordrecht-pfas.jpg\" alt=\"chemours-chemical-plant-dordrecht-pfas\" width=\"1638\" height=\"865\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/05\/chemours-chemical-plant-dordrecht-pfas.jpg 1638w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/05\/chemours-chemical-plant-dordrecht-pfas-280x148.jpg 280w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/05\/chemours-chemical-plant-dordrecht-pfas-256x135.jpg 256w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/05\/chemours-chemical-plant-dordrecht-pfas-511x270.jpg 511w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/05\/chemours-chemical-plant-dordrecht-pfas-1536x811.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/05\/chemours-chemical-plant-dordrecht-pfas-796x420.jpg 796w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/05\/chemours-chemical-plant-dordrecht-pfas-1592x841.jpg 1592w\"\/><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Public and regulatory pressure to phase out PFAS production is mounting.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Citizens are more aware of the issue than ever before. EU politicians from five member states have proposed a total ban on PFAS. Even major investors are<\/span> <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ft.com\/content\/ee955487-3e7c-4c7b-9bcb-89001507cee0\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">urging chemical companies<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to clean up their act.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This has opened a new market for safer alternatives, as well as technologies to clean up the pollution already out there.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yet, PFAS manufacturers and their industrial customers are pushing back. They argue that the chemicals are critical to the green transition and that a ban would reduce European competitiveness.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But do we really have to choose between fighting climate change or eliminating cancer-causing PFAS?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Destroying_forever_chemicals_forever\"><\/span><b>Destroying forever chemicals, forever <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A recent <\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.lemonde.fr\/en\/les-decodeurs\/article\/2023\/02\/23\/forever-pollution-explore-the-map-of-europe-s-pfas-contamination_6016905_8.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">cross-border investigation<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> identified 17,000 sites across Europe polluted with PFAS. Of these, over 2,000 had levels of the chemicals that far exceeded the limit considered safe for humans.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are a range of carbon and resin water filters that remove PFAS from water. Most water treatment facilities already use these filters in a process called reverse osmosis. But they\u2019re<\/span> <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/pubs.acs.org\/doi\/10.1021\/acs.estlett.0c00004\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">far from 100% effective<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Nor do they destroy the compounds.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Incineration was long considered the only way to break down PFAS permanently. However, it is energy intensive and studies have shown that it may just disperse the chemicals<\/span> <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.epa.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/2019-09\/documents\/technical_brief_pfas_incineration_ioaa_approved_final_july_2019.pdf\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">into the air<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> instead.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThere are very few methods that we know of that permanently and safely destroy PFAS,\u201d says Dr. Fajer Mushtaq, nano<a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/technology\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"4\" title=\"Technology\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">technology<\/a> engineer and co-founder of Oxyle. \u201cBut it can be done.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Oxyle is one of a small but rapidly growing cohort of companies working in PFAS remediation, a job that<\/span> <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.barrons.com\/articles\/forever-chemicals-pfas-aecom-montrose-republic-services-xylem-stock-0eafef73\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">could cost $200 billion<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Swiss company has developed a reactor that mineralises PFAS, breaking apart their carbon-fluorine bonds \u2014 one of the strongest in organic chemistry. Oxyle\u2019s system doesn\u2019t rely on heat to destroy the chemicals, which means its device uses far less energy than competitors\u2019, says Mushtaq.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<figure class=\"post-image post-mediaBleed aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-1406494 size-full js-lazy\" alt=\"An image of a PFAS destroying machine created by Swiss startup Oxyle\" width=\"1640\" height=\"1095\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1640px) 100vw, 1640px\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/05\/oxyle-pfas-destroy-machine.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/05\/oxyle-pfas-destroy-machine.jpg 1640w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/05\/oxyle-pfas-destroy-machine-280x187.jpg 280w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/05\/oxyle-pfas-destroy-machine-202x135.jpg 202w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/05\/oxyle-pfas-destroy-machine-404x270.jpg 404w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/05\/oxyle-pfas-destroy-machine-1536x1026.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/05\/oxyle-pfas-destroy-machine-796x531.jpg 796w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/05\/oxyle-pfas-destroy-machine-1592x1063.jpg 1592w\"\/><figcaption><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"#\" data-url=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Feditorial.thenextweb.com%2Fdeep-tech%2F2024%2F05%2F13%2Fstartups-fight-to-ban-destroy-pfas-forever-chemicals-with-tech%2F&amp;via=thenextweb&amp;related=thenextweb&amp;text=Check out this picture on: Oxyle\u2019s machine can completely destroy PFAS. Credit: Oxyle\" data-title=\"Share Oxyle\u2019s machine can completely destroy PFAS. Credit: Oxyle on Twitter\" data-width=\"685\" data-height=\"500\" class=\"post-image-share popitup\" title=\"Share Oxyle\u2019s machine can completely destroy PFAS. Credit: Oxyle on Twitter\"><i class=\"icon icon--inline icon--twitter--dark\"\/><\/a>Oxyle\u2019s machine can completely destroy PFAS. Credit: Oxyle<\/figcaption><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-1406494 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/05\/oxyle-pfas-destroy-machine.jpg\" alt=\"An image of a PFAS destroying machine created by Swiss startup Oxyle\" width=\"1640\" height=\"1095\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/05\/oxyle-pfas-destroy-machine.jpg 1640w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/05\/oxyle-pfas-destroy-machine-280x187.jpg 280w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/05\/oxyle-pfas-destroy-machine-202x135.jpg 202w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/05\/oxyle-pfas-destroy-machine-404x270.jpg 404w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/05\/oxyle-pfas-destroy-machine-1536x1026.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/05\/oxyle-pfas-destroy-machine-796x531.jpg 796w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/05\/oxyle-pfas-destroy-machine-1592x1063.jpg 1592w\"\/><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Key to the reaction is a so-called nanoporous catalyst. Mushtaq spent over 10 years developing this novel material during her time as a researcher at ETH Zurich.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The machine sucks up contaminated water into a chamber where it comes in contact with the catalyst. The reactor then vibrates, bubbles, and lights up the water. This motion activates the catalyst, which converts the energy into potent chemical \u201cradicals.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These highly reactive, electrically charged molecules oxidise anything in their path, including PFAS. Only minerals and water remain. This solution can be safely discharged back into the water supply.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Oxyle\u2019s device uses machine learning algorithms to sieve through data from built-in sensors. This tells users what types of contaminants are in the water and whether they are above or below the mandated limits.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The startup recently completed a large-scale PFAS clean-up project for a chemical company in Switzerland. It pumped groundwater to the surface, treated it, and then put it back underground. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Oxyle successfully eradicated 99% of PFAS from the site. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWe\u2019re pretty much the only company in Europe doing this [PFAS destruction],\u201d says Mushtaq. \u201cBut more and more are popping up, especially in the US. The potential for growth is huge.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Washington-based Aquagga is another startup taking aim at PFAS. It has developed what it calls a \u201cpressure cooker on steroids.\u201d The device subjects water to extremely high temperatures and pressure, in an alkaline environment. The process completely breaks down the PFAS molecules.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently passed the<\/span> <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/forever-chemicals-pfas-pollution-epa-drinking-water-1c8804288413a73bb7b99fc866c8fa51\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">world\u2019s strictest requirements<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for PFAS levels in water. The law is expected to open the market for companies like Oxyle and Aquagga.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Meanwhile, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden put forward a proposal last year for an <\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.arnoldporter.com\/en\/perspectives\/blogs\/environmental-edge\/2023\/02\/five-key-features-of-eus-proposed-pfas-restrict\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">EU-wide ban<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> on all PFAS compounds. The <\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/echa.europa.eu\/-\/echa-receives-pfass-restriction-proposal-from-five-national-authorities\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">European Chemicals Agency<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> called it \u201cone of the broadest restriction proposals in EU history.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Pressure_mounts\"><\/span><b>Pressure mounts<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Incoming regulation isn\u2019t just driving clean-up efforts, it\u2019s targeting the problem at its source \u2014 PFAS production. And lawmakers aren\u2019t the only ones calling on chemical companies to clean up their act.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In November, more than 50 investment firms representing $10 trillion in assets wrote to the world\u2019s biggest producers of PFAS. They<\/span> <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ft.com\/content\/ee955487-3e7c-4c7b-9bcb-89001507cee0\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">demanded<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that these companies phase out production, increase transparency, and invest in safer alternatives under the Investor Initiative on Hazardous Chemicals (IIHC).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cChemical companies are used to dealing with complaints from NGOs and environmental groups, but when investors and politicians start <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">app<\/a>lying pressure \u2014 that\u2019s much more powerful,\u201d says Jonatan Kleimark, senior chemicals and business advisor at ChemSec, a non-profit partly funded by the Swedish government. ChemSec advocates for stricter regulation of toxic chemicals.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<figure class=\"post-image post-mediaBleed aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1406492 js-lazy\" alt=\"The-Map-of-forever-pollution-Forever-Pollution-project\" width=\"1626\" height=\"1279\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1626px) 100vw, 1626px\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/05\/The-Map-of-forever-pollution-Forever-Pollution-project-\u00a9Le-Monde-crop.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/05\/The-Map-of-forever-pollution-Forever-Pollution-project-\u00a9Le-Monde-crop.jpg 1626w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/05\/The-Map-of-forever-pollution-Forever-Pollution-project-\u00a9Le-Monde-crop-267x210.jpg 267w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/05\/The-Map-of-forever-pollution-Forever-Pollution-project-\u00a9Le-Monde-crop-172x135.jpg 172w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/05\/The-Map-of-forever-pollution-Forever-Pollution-project-\u00a9Le-Monde-crop-343x270.jpg 343w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/05\/The-Map-of-forever-pollution-Forever-Pollution-project-\u00a9Le-Monde-crop-1536x1208.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/05\/The-Map-of-forever-pollution-Forever-Pollution-project-\u00a9Le-Monde-crop-796x626.jpg 796w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/05\/The-Map-of-forever-pollution-Forever-Pollution-project-\u00a9Le-Monde-crop-1592x1252.jpg 1592w\"\/><figcaption><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"#\" data-url=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Feditorial.thenextweb.com%2Fdeep-tech%2F2024%2F05%2F13%2Fstartups-fight-to-ban-destroy-pfas-forever-chemicals-with-tech%2F&amp;via=thenextweb&amp;related=thenextweb&amp;text=Check out this picture on: At least 17,000 across Europe are contaminated with PFAS. Credit: Le Monde\" data-title=\"Share At least 17,000 across Europe are contaminated with PFAS. Credit: Le Monde on Twitter\" data-width=\"685\" data-height=\"500\" class=\"post-image-share popitup\" title=\"Share At least 17,000 across Europe are contaminated with PFAS. Credit: Le Monde on Twitter\"><i class=\"icon icon--inline icon--twitter--dark\"\/><\/a>At least 17,000 across Europe are contaminated with PFAS. Credit: Le Monde<\/figcaption><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1406492\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/05\/The-Map-of-forever-pollution-Forever-Pollution-project-%C2%A9Le-Monde-crop.jpg\" alt=\"The-Map-of-forever-pollution-Forever-Pollution-project\" width=\"1626\" height=\"1279\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/05\/The-Map-of-forever-pollution-Forever-Pollution-project-\u00a9Le-Monde-crop.jpg 1626w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/05\/The-Map-of-forever-pollution-Forever-Pollution-project-\u00a9Le-Monde-crop-267x210.jpg 267w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/05\/The-Map-of-forever-pollution-Forever-Pollution-project-\u00a9Le-Monde-crop-172x135.jpg 172w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/05\/The-Map-of-forever-pollution-Forever-Pollution-project-\u00a9Le-Monde-crop-343x270.jpg 343w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/05\/The-Map-of-forever-pollution-Forever-Pollution-project-\u00a9Le-Monde-crop-1536x1208.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/05\/The-Map-of-forever-pollution-Forever-Pollution-project-\u00a9Le-Monde-crop-796x626.jpg 796w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/05\/The-Map-of-forever-pollution-Forever-Pollution-project-\u00a9Le-Monde-crop-1592x1252.jpg 1592w\"\/><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Victims alleging harm from PFAS have lodged almost 10,000 lawsuits since 1999, according to a <\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.milliman.com\/en\/insight\/forever-chemical-risk-actuarial-reserving-insurers-prepare-for-PFAS-claims-litigation\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">report<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. American chemical giant 3M, which invented the first PFAS almost a hundred years ago, recently <\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/pfas-drinking-water-settlement-3m-fa41cadfe0d65b9723377a681df43af1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">agreed to settle<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> one such claim for a whopping $10.5 billion.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cPFAS matters to investors because of the very direct impact on shareholder value from the increasing tide of litigation and regulation against chemical companies,\u201d explains Eugenie Mathieu, earth lead at Aviva Investors.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3M shocked the world in 2022 when it committed to <\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ft.com\/content\/7d95cdd3-601c-4026-a2bd-0df1a303424f\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">stop making PFAS<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> by the end of 2025, citing pressure from regulators and investors.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But 3M is more the expectation than the rule \u2014 most big players are digging their heels in.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of them is Chemours. The firm is one of the world\u2019s largest PFAS producers, and the biggest supplier of fluoropolymers (a hard plastic type of PFAS) to the chip industry. Chemours is still investing heavily in PFAS production.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"%E2%80%98Critical_to_decarbonisation\"><\/span><b>\u2018Critical to decarbonisation\u2019\u00a0<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cIn many critical applications there are no alternative materials that provide the unique and essential characteristics that fluoropolymers provide,\u201d a Chemours spokesperson tells TNW. \u201cThe products we produce are critical to many advances in clean energy and decarbonisation.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The company\u2019s sentiment is echoed by many PFAS suppliers and their industrial customers, including the likes of <\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/arstechnica.com\/tech-policy\/2023\/03\/chipmakers-fight-spread-of-us-crackdowns-on-forever-chemicals\/#:~:text=Intel%20added%20PFAS%20to%20the,legislation%20in%20California%20and%20Minnesota.\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">TSMC and Intel<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2014 and it carries weight.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Aside from consumer products, PFAS are used in a number of technologies key to the green transition, from lithium-ion batteries to hydrogen fuel cells.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In chipmaking, PFAS products perform various key functions, for example, in the lithography manufacturing process. Nvidia \u2014 the chipmaker that\u2019s ridden the AI hype wave to become one of the world\u2019s most <\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vox.com\/money\/2024\/3\/7\/24092309\/nvidia-stock-earnings-valuation-ai-explainer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">valuable companies<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2014 uses fluoropolymers in its semiconductors.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<figure class=\"post-image post-mediaBleed aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1406496 js-lazy\" alt=\"semiconductor-pfas-chips\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/05\/semiconductor-pfas-chips.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/05\/semiconductor-pfas-chips.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/05\/semiconductor-pfas-chips-280x158.jpg 280w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/05\/semiconductor-pfas-chips-240x135.jpg 240w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/05\/semiconductor-pfas-chips-480x270.jpg 480w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/05\/semiconductor-pfas-chips-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/05\/semiconductor-pfas-chips-796x448.jpg 796w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/05\/semiconductor-pfas-chips-1592x896.jpg 1592w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/05\/semiconductor-pfas-chips-1200x675.jpg 1200w\"\/><figcaption><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"#\" data-url=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Feditorial.thenextweb.com%2Fdeep-tech%2F2024%2F05%2F13%2Fstartups-fight-to-ban-destroy-pfas-forever-chemicals-with-tech%2F&amp;via=thenextweb&amp;related=thenextweb&amp;text=Check out this picture on: PFAS fluoropolymers are used in the production of most computer chips. Aaron Hawkins\/Getty Images via Canva\" data-title=\"Share PFAS fluoropolymers are used in the production of most computer chips. Aaron Hawkins\/Getty Images via Canva on Twitter\" data-width=\"685\" data-height=\"500\" class=\"post-image-share popitup\" title=\"Share PFAS fluoropolymers are used in the production of most computer chips. Aaron Hawkins\/Getty Images via Canva on Twitter\"><i class=\"icon icon--inline icon--twitter--dark\"\/><\/a>PFAS fluoropolymers are used in the production of most computer chips. Aaron Hawkins\/Getty Images via Canva<\/figcaption><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1406496\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/05\/semiconductor-pfas-chips.jpg\" alt=\"semiconductor-pfas-chips\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/05\/semiconductor-pfas-chips.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/05\/semiconductor-pfas-chips-280x158.jpg 280w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/05\/semiconductor-pfas-chips-240x135.jpg 240w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/05\/semiconductor-pfas-chips-480x270.jpg 480w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/05\/semiconductor-pfas-chips-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/05\/semiconductor-pfas-chips-796x448.jpg 796w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/05\/semiconductor-pfas-chips-1592x896.jpg 1592w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/05\/semiconductor-pfas-chips-1200x675.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Makers and users of PFAS have formed a <\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fpp4eu.eu\/about-us\/who-we-are\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">lobby group<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to fight against the EU ban. The companies are concerned that a broad restriction may lead to \u201cdisruptions of certain value chains\u201d and \u201ceventually eliminate some key applications,\u201d a spokesperson for the group told <\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/markets\/commodities\/eu-considers-ban-forever-chemicals-urges-search-alternatives-2023-02-07\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reuters<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Major PFAS manufacturers like Chemours and BASF also argue that a broad ban would not account for differences between the thousands of PFAS variants.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">PFAS can be a solid, a liquid, or a gas. Some, like PFOA and PFOS, have been found to be especially dangerous.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cLumping them all together doesn\u2019t speak to the risks posed by a specific PFAS nor its uses and benefits,\u201d says the Chemours spokesperson. \u201cEssentially, it would be like regulating olive oil the same as motor oil because they are both hydrocarbons.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_case_for_broad_restriction\"><\/span><b>The case for broad restriction\u00a0<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The EU has banned PFAS before. In 2020, the bloc prohibited the manufacture and sale of products containing PFOA \u2014 the chemical found in Van der Vlies\u2019 blood.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Following the restriction, Chemours replaced the chemical, marketed as C8, with another PFAS it had developed years earlier: GenX. This new variant has since been linked to<\/span> <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/abs\/pii\/S0269749124002884\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">liver cancer<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cIf you ban one they just create another,\u201d says Dr Juliane Gl\u00fcge, senior researcher in environmental chemistry at ETH Zurich.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">All PFAS are persistent and accumulate in the environment and living things. Gl\u00fcge and other<\/span> <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/pubs.rsc.org\/en\/content\/articlelanding\/2020\/em\/d0em00355g\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">scientists argue<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that this fact alone should be enough to justify a sweeping prohibition of all of the compounds.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kleimark from Chemsec believes chemical companies are being \u201coverly dramatic\u201d in their claims that phasing out PFAS will stall the green transition.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThe vast majority of PFAS are not going toward critical applications,\u201d he says. \u201cAnd the proposed EU restriction makes concessions for specific use cases that don\u2019t have viable alternatives, giving industry time to innovate new solutions.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Finding_and_scaling_PFAS_alternatives\"><\/span><b>Finding and scaling PFAS alternatives\u00a0<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Alternatives to PFAS already exist for products like<\/span> <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wired.com\/story\/pfas-free-waterproof-apparel\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">rain jackets<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">,<\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.kemira.com\/insights\/safe-alternatives-to-pfas-in-food-packaging\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> food-packaging<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">,<\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fuchs.com\/us\/en\/everything-you-need-to-know-about-pfas-pfas-free-lubricants\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> lubricants<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and<\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/climate.ec.europa.eu\/eu-action\/fluorinated-greenhouse-gases\/climate-friendly-alternatives-hfcs_en\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> f-gases<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2014 used as coolants in air conditioning equipment and EV batteries.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For instance, Swedish chemical company OrganoClick has invented an alternative to PTFE, a PFAS commonly used in water-repellant clothing. Dubbed<\/span> <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/organotex.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">OrganoTex<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the biomaterial mimics the properties of lotus leaves, which naturally repel water.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the Netherlands, Eindhoven University of Technology spinout Solarge has made a PFAS-free solar panel.<\/span><\/p>\n<figure class=\"post-image post-mediaBleed aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-1406497 size-full js-lazy\" alt=\"pfas-free-raincoat\" width=\"1640\" height=\"923\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1640px) 100vw, 1640px\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/05\/pfas-free-raincoat-1.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/05\/pfas-free-raincoat-1.jpg 1640w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/05\/pfas-free-raincoat-1-280x158.jpg 280w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/05\/pfas-free-raincoat-1-240x135.jpg 240w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/05\/pfas-free-raincoat-1-480x270.jpg 480w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/05\/pfas-free-raincoat-1-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/05\/pfas-free-raincoat-1-796x448.jpg 796w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/05\/pfas-free-raincoat-1-1592x896.jpg 1592w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/05\/pfas-free-raincoat-1-1200x675.jpg 1200w\"\/><figcaption><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"#\" data-url=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Feditorial.thenextweb.com%2Fdeep-tech%2F2024%2F05%2F13%2Fstartups-fight-to-ban-destroy-pfas-forever-chemicals-with-tech%2F&amp;via=thenextweb&amp;related=thenextweb&amp;text=Check out this picture on: A number of clothing manufacturers, including Patagonia, sell raincoats that repel water without using PFAS. Credit: Lesya Marchuk via Canva\" data-title=\"Share A number of clothing manufacturers, including Patagonia, sell raincoats that repel water without using PFAS. Credit: Lesya Marchuk via Canva on Twitter\" data-width=\"685\" data-height=\"500\" class=\"post-image-share popitup\" title=\"Share A number of clothing manufacturers, including Patagonia, sell raincoats that repel water without using PFAS. Credit: Lesya Marchuk via Canva on Twitter\"><i class=\"icon icon--inline icon--twitter--dark\"\/><\/a>A number of clothing manufacturers, including Patagonia, sell raincoats that repel water without using PFAS. Credit: Lesya Marchuk via Canva<\/figcaption><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-1406497 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/05\/pfas-free-raincoat-1.jpg\" alt=\"pfas-free-raincoat\" width=\"1640\" height=\"923\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/05\/pfas-free-raincoat-1.jpg 1640w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/05\/pfas-free-raincoat-1-280x158.jpg 280w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/05\/pfas-free-raincoat-1-240x135.jpg 240w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/05\/pfas-free-raincoat-1-480x270.jpg 480w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/05\/pfas-free-raincoat-1-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/05\/pfas-free-raincoat-1-796x448.jpg 796w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/05\/pfas-free-raincoat-1-1592x896.jpg 1592w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2024\/05\/pfas-free-raincoat-1-1200x675.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But it\u2019s not just early-stage companies working on solutions.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Japanese ink producer DIC has developed new PFAS-free surfactants for semiconductors. Mitsubishi Corp. has invented a<\/span>\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/japannews.yomiuri.co.jp\/business\/companies\/20231205-153597\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">hard-to-burn plastic material<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that can replace fluoropolymers in smartphones and laptops.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For cases where alternatives simply aren\u2019t available, \u201cwe need to rapidly scale up research and development,\u201d says Kleimark. Chemsec works with PFAS manufacturers to explore ways to scale safer alternatives.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As regulation tightens, litigation piles up, and investors apply pressure, the writing on the wall is getting bolder for PFAS manufacturers: start finding alternatives now or risk getting left behind.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_long_road_ahead\"><\/span><b>A long road ahead<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The EU\u2019s PFAS restriction proposal could come into effect as early as 2026. It would also restrict the import of products containing the chemicals into the bloc.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, whether the EU\u2019s PFAS restriction proposal will come into force is still uncertain.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The chemical industry has been shown to use several strategies in the past \u2014 similar to those deployed by tobacco, pharmaceutical, and other industries \u2014 to<\/span> <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/annalsofglobalhealth.org\/articles\/10.5334\/aogh.4013\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">influence science and regulation<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">EU states may also be unwilling to make any move that could harm their competitiveness. This is especially true as the bloc looks to cut its reliance on foreign imports of key technologies.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThere\u2019s a risk that the EU-wide ban will be watered down,\u201d says Kleimark.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the meantime, PFAS production continues pretty much unabated. An issue that was largely avoidable has now become \u201cthe greatest chemical threat facing humankind in the 21st Century,\u201d to quote<\/span> <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ljmu.ac.uk\/about-us\/news\/articles\/2024\/2\/20\/pfasends\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dr Patrick Byrne<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> from Liverpool John Moores University.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What\u2019s clear is that the green transition should not justify continued PFAS production. Nor does <span style=\"color: #000000;\">one negate the other. <\/span>Safe alternatives are out there \u2014 we just need to scale them up.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If there\u2019s one thing PFAS manufacturers can teach us is that where there\u2019s a will there\u2019s a way. Now we can only hope the chemical industry dedicates as much energy toward solving the PFAS problem as it did toward covering it up. <\/span>\n                        <\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMN63nwsw68G3Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more like this article, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/technology\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Technology category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/thenextweb.com\/news\/startups-fight-to-ban-destroy-pfas-forever-chemicals-with-tech\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>For over 40 years, Ted Van der Vlies and his wife Marga grew fruits and vegetables in their backyard on the outskirts of Dordrecht, the Netherlands. Onions, potatoes, lettuce, carrots, rhubarb, cherries, you name it.\u00a0 Little did they know that their homegrown produce was likely poisoning them.\u00a0 Just a kilometre away from their garden sits&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-620266","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-technology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/620266","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=620266"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/620266\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=620266"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=620266"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=620266"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}