{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Radio Chatskill","title":"New York Senate Advances PFAS Bills as Advocates Urge Swift Action","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":1062,"description":"New York lawmakers are moving to curb exposure to PFAS, the so-called “forever chemicals” found in everyday products from non-stick pans to waterproof mascara.PFAS — a class of more than 10,000 synthetic compounds — accumulate in soil, water and human bloodstreams. Studies have linked them to certain cancers, developmental effects in children, immune system suppression and reproductive harm.This week, the State Senate passed two bills aimed at limiting exposure. One would require greater disclosure of PFAS discharges into waterways. Another would ban PFAS in many consumer and household products. Both now head to the Assembly.“Addressing the PFAS contamination crisis in New York requires multiple policies,” said Kate Donovan, director of Northeast Environmental Health at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) . “There's not just one single piece of legislation that's going to solve the problem. We need to look upstream to kind of like turn off the tap to PFAS.”Turning off the tapDonovan says the consumer products bill targets PFAS at the source.“That’s what the PFAS in consumer products bill does. It says, we don't need to use PFAS in these particular consumer products, because they're unnecessary. There are alternatives on the market and they're contributing to kind of the influx of PFAS into our system.”At the same time, she says, the state needs to understand where contamination is coming from on the industrial side.“There are thousands of manufacturing and industrial facilities across New York that use these chemicals in industrial processes as lubricants, as additives for cleaning machinery. We just don't know exactly where it's all coming from and the PFAS Disclosure Act would help us understand that. And it focuses on transparency.”Advocates often describe PFAS as a life-cycle problem — from production to disposal. Donovan says the two Senate bills reflect that strategy.“We know that these chemicals are being intentionally added to products that we...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/q7XXsnSXT_u4mZLCn3chUorwDmUD_kWiB272D6emB18/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS80N2Uy/OGY5MWUwZThkYTEw/NDVkZGM2ZGZkZDIw/ZjliOS5wbmc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}