Bill limiting ‘forever chemicals’ in firefighting foam clears Senate committee

Harrisburg, Pa. — The Pa. Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee have approved Senate Bill 980, a bill created to limit the use of firefighting foam containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as “forever chemicals.”

The bipartisan legislation was jointly introduced by Sens. Gene Yaw and Nick Miller. The bill, if passed, would restrict the manufacture, sale, distribution, and use of firefighting foam containing PFAS starting this year. According to the EPA, PFAS are manmade chemicals used since the 1940s that can accumulate in the environment and human body over time, with studies linking exposure to the chemicals to adverse health effects. As the nickname “forever chemicals” suggests, these chemicals are extremely difficult to break down.