PFAS From Certain Plastic Can Violate Chemicals Law, EPA Says

PFAS released by certain types of plastic containers may be illegal, the EPA warned companies making, using, and disposing the canisters in an open letter released Wednesday.

Treating high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic containers with fluorine gas, which is done to protect chemicals and other substances stored in them, can unintentionally “manufacture” per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, the Environmental Protection Agency said.

That manufacture could be a new use of the chemicals that violates Toxic Substances Control Act regulations the EPA has issued to control these chemicals, the agency said. The “significant new use rules” require companies to ask the ...