NOVEMBER 2020
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) pose particular challenges to local and state leaders seeking to protect the health of residents. Uncertainties about the risk of various PFAS, the evolving science, and the variability among policies and standards make addressing these emerging contaminants difficult. States in the Great Lakes region are among those leading the effort to evaluate and address PFAS contamination, and are participating in a number of critical research studies and monitoring efforts. An initiative of the American Association of the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the Center for Scientific Evidence in Public Issues (EPI Center) delivers clear, concise, and actionable scientific evidence to policymakers and other decision-makers. The following guides were developed in the fall of 2020 by the AAAS EPI Center to help local and state leaders understand the current scientific evidence as they evaluate the risk of PFAS contamination in drinking water. The AAAS EPI Center is pleased to host virtual roundtable discussions with the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Legislative Caucus (GLLC) to foster collaboration among Great Lakes states and provinces. We hope that participants will benefit from a review of the most recent scientific evidence, and together explore options to address the risks posed by PFAS contaminated drinking water, including how to prioritize action most effectively. These guides are being distributed for the first time to GLLC members attending the virtual roundtable discussions. As the first people to receive these guides, we welcome your feedback on the materials. We hope the guides will be of assistance as you continue to engage your community members, drinking water providers, local and state regulatory agencies, and federal agencies to address PFAS contamination. Thank you for joining us to share your experiences and discuss strategies to minimize the harm posed by PFAS in the Great Lakes region and across the country. Please do reach out if you have any questions about PFAS or other issues in the Great Lakes.
Rebecca Aicher, Project Director, AAAS EPI Center, raicher@aaas.org
Visit us at aaas.org/epicenter Follow us on Twitter @AAASepiCenter Contact us epicenter@aaas.org
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