PFAS and Emerging Contaminants Newsletter July
6PPD-quinone (6PPDQ) is a transformation product of 6PPD, a chemical added to tires to prevent cracking and extend tire life. Tire wear pollution is gaining attention as an emerging environmental concern, with 6PPD-quinone becoming a key focus for monitoring, regulation, and risk assessment.
Learn more about it and read our expert’s insights here!
SGS Updates:
PFAS investigations are moving into air. As industrial, regulatory, remediation, and occupational health questions continue to evolve, clients need practical tools to evaluate PFAS in workplace air, ambient air, process-related air, and treatment system applications.
SGS supports a wide range of air monitoring solutions including recently developed low-volume PFAS air sampling using a multi-media sampling train designed to collect particulate-bound and semi-volatile PFAS compounds. Click here to read learn more about our comprehensive list of PFAS air sampling kits and laboratory analysis!
US Policy News
EPA Invests $1.9 Million to Improve Drinking Water in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska
U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing more than $1.9 million in grant funding to improve drinking water infrastructure in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. These grants will help communities with needed resources to make critical drinking water infrastructure upgrades, combat PFAS, remove sources of lead, and address specific local drinking water challenges.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is releasing draft guidance to help wastewater utilities, landowners, and the public reduce risk from PFOA and PFOS in biosolids. This effort is part of EPA’s comprehensive, lifecycle-based strategy to address PFAS.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is taking a key step to advance Safe Drinking Water Act implementation by proposing to monitor contaminants that are not currently regulated but may be present in drinking water. Specifically, the agency is proposing monitoring requirements for 30 unregulated contaminants in the Sixth Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 6).
National
PFAS pesticides approved after EPA adopts new toxicity definition
The US Environmental Protection Agency quietly approved the use of three new PFAS pesticides last week to kill weeds on the nation’s crops.
Local News
New Jersey
NJDEP Adopts Interim Specific Groundwater Standards for PFAS
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) published a notice of rule adoption formally establishing new regulatory standards applicable to hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid and its ammonium salt (collectively, GenX), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS). This latest regulatory action sees the NJDEP continuing to broaden New Jersey’s regulation of PFAS, a category the agency has identified as chemicals of emerging concern.
Alaska
U.S. EPA allocates $227 million for tribal and Alaska native water systems
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has confirmed over $227 million in fiscal year 2026 funding to support drinking water and wastewater services in American Indian Tribes and Alaska Native Villages. The allocation aims to give these communities the tools needed to safeguard both public health and local ecosystems.
Connecticut
Connecticut Will Accept Label Similar to New Mexico’s PFAS Label
As of July 1, 2026, Connecticut prohibits the manufacture, sale, and distribution of certain consumer products that contain intentionally added PFAS unless the manufacturer provides prior notification to the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) and labels these products.
New York
New York sues 3M, DuPont, others over ‘forever chemicals’ in consumer goods
New York sued 3M, DuPont and other companies on Thursday for causing a public nuisance by selling “forever chemicals” that they knew were toxic, for use in consumer products.
Colorado
Colorado awarded $432,000 for drinking water infrastructure projects
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded $432,000 to Colorado as part of a $1.6 million funding package for drinking water infrastructure projects across six western states.
The funding is part of the Small, Rural, and Tribal Drinking Water Assistance Program, established under the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act. The grants will help states improve drinking water systems, address per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as PFAS, remove sources of lead and support compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act.
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania proposes monitoring for ‘forever chemicals’ in biosolids used on farms
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection proposes to require wastewater treatment facilities to monitor for so-called forever chemicals in their sewage sludge that’s used as fertilizer. It’s the first time Pennsylvania facilities that produce biosolids for land application would face monitoring requirements for PFOS and PFOA.
Global News
Europe
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) lowers safe level for exposure to TFA
The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has reduced the safe level of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) in the diet based on new scientific evidence. TFA is a breakdown product of some pesticides.
The European Commission and EU Member States will take the new levels into account when they discuss measures to ensure consumers remain protected.