SGS Updates:
Wilmington Expands PFAS Capabilities with 1633A Accreditation!
We’re proud to announce that our Wilmington, NC laboratory is now NELAP-accredited to perform EPA Method 1633A for Aqueous, Solid, and Tissue matrices.
This milestone adds to the Wilmington lab’s legacy of excellence in ultratrace PFAS analysis and builds on its existing drinking water accreditations under EPA Methods 533 and 537.1.
This lab is part of SGS North America’s expanding PFAS network, including 10 PFAS labs, with seven laboratories accredited for Method 1633 and 1633A and coordinated to deliver scalable capacity, industry-leading turnaround times, and high-quality, defensible PFAS data across all matrices.
Stay tuned! Click on SGS PFAS/emerging contaminants analysis capabilities, and see why SGS delivers what you need every step of way.
US Policy News
Proposed USEPA Budget Cuts May Impact PFAS Cleanups
The USEPA released its Fiscal Year 2026 Budget Justification in June 2025. The PFAS contamination was addressed by USEPA through the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act cleanups, research into toxicity values and analytical methods, among other programs. However, USEPA also proposed to reduce the Hazardous Substance Superfund budget, remove the Superfund Remediation program budget, and cut the federal facility cleanup budget.
House draft bill proposes reductions to Drinking, Clean Water SRFs
The House of Representatives has released a draft of the FY26 Interior-Environment appropriations bill, which includes proposals for federal water infrastructure appropriations in 2026. Of note, the draft bill calls for a 20% reduction to the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) and a 26% reduction to the Clean Water SRF.
EPA pulls chemical recycling proposal addressing PFAS and other contaminants
The U.S. EPA has decided not to move forward with proposed rules that would have monitored specific contaminants in plastic feedstocks used to make fuel, including certain PFAS.
US News by State
National
New maps reveal 73 million people exposed to PFAS in US drinking water above EPA standards
Over 73 million people in the US are being exposed to toxic PFAS chemicals in their tap water, according to an analysis of data from a US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) water monitoring program.
Unsafe levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been found in excess of EPA thresholds in every US state but Arkansas, Hawaii and North Dakota, according to the analysis published July 17 by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).
‘Forever Chemical’ Exposure Before Birth May Raise Blood Pressure in Teen Years
A new study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association (JAHA) found that pregnant people exposed to PFAS—or “forever chemicals”—are at risk of giving birth to children who may have high blood pressure once they reach their teens.1
To come to these conclusions, researchers tracked nearly 1,100 mother-child pairs. They discovered a distinct link between prenatal PFAS exposure and increased blood pressure during adolescence.
In ‘blow to the environment,’ EPA begins to dismantle its research office | Science | AAAS
In a sweeping reduction of the U.S. government’s research capabilities, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced last week it will begin to dissolve its Office of Research and Development (ORD) and lay off staff. The toll is expected to include hundreds of scientists and their research on environmental hazards.
Demolishing ORD could have widespread implications, researchers say. It could, for example, delay or prevent development of new methods for assessing the risks of mixtures of chemicals, which can differ from those of individual substances, says Allen Burton, an environmental scientist at the University of Michigan. “It’s a blow to the environment and wildlife, birds, fish, and humans to not be on the cutting edge.”
Colorado
The so-called forever chemicals known as PFAS come from households, commercial enterprises and other sources and are found nearly everywhere. In the Pikes Peak region, they’ve also been linked to firefighting foam from Peterson Space Force Base, formerly Peterson Air Force Base.
Kevin Brown manages the district that serves about 18,000 customers adjacent to Colorado Springs. He said they’ve been evaluating the best methods of removing contaminants for about a year.
Florida
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Tampa Bay Water officials said a new settlement will help them keep drinking water safe across three counties. The law firm representing Tampa Bay Water announced an estimated $21 million settlement in the class action lawsuit against manufacturers of PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals.”
Maryland
Maryland invests in PFAS cleanup as communities face water concerns
The state is investing millions of dollars in efforts to filter out these harmful substances — a tall order, especially after a recent national study found elevated PFAS levels in the Monocacy River in Frederick County.
New York
EPA Proposes Final Cleanup Plan for Contaminated Groundwater Superfund Site on Long Island, N.Y.
Garden City Park, N.Y. – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing a final cleanup plan to address contaminated groundwater at the Fulton Avenue Superfund site in Garden City Park on Long Island in New York. EPA is taking public comment on the cleanup proposal for 30 days beginning July 18 and ending August 18, 2025. The plan calls for a combination of monitoring and restrictions to address the groundwater.
DuPont Agrees to $27M Settlement in Polluted Water Lawsuit in Upstate New York
HOOSICK FALLS, N.Y. (AP) — Chemical maker DuPont has agreed to a $27 million settlement to resolve a nearly decade-long lawsuit over the contamination of an upstate New York village’s water supply.
The deal was announced Wednesday by lawyers representing residents of Hoosick Falls, located northwest of Albany, just as the case was headed to trial in federal court this week.
Pennsylvania
Penn State study finds toxic PFAS in 18% of private wells in Pennsylvania
About 18% of private wells in Pennsylvania are contaminated with toxic PFAS chemicals, according to a new Pennsylvania State University study.
State and federal regulations restrict the so-called “forever chemicals” in public drinking water. However, private wells are not state or federally regulated, meaning homeowners are responsible for testing and treating their own water. More than 1 million households in Pennsylvania rely on private wells.
Canada News
How to make sense of the new findings on ‘forever chemicals’ in makeup
Canadian researchers have found that hundreds of cosmetics, many described as waterproof or long-lasting, contain potentially toxic chemicals that aren’t listed on the labels.
People who wear makeup such as lipstick or mascara may be absorbing or licking up potentially harmful ingredients that hang around for decades in the environment, according to a new study by researchers in the U.S., Canada and Switzerland.
Global News
Very high levels of toxic chemicals found in eco-friendly menstrual products, study says
Extremely high levels of toxic chemicals called PFAS (perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances) have been found in a small sampling of reusable menstrual pads and panties, according to a new study. The highest levels of contamination came from a type of “neutral” PFAS that scientists know exist but have just recently been able to measure and more thoroughly test for harm, the study found.