Apr. 07, 2025
HARRISBURG – Rep. Brenda Pugh (R-Luzerne) has introduced legislation that would direct the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to conduct a study to better understand the potential risks that certain land-applied biosolid chemicals pose to the environment, food and water supply, and potential mitigation measures to reduce these chemical levels.
The chemicals are known as PFAS, which stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, and are a large group of nearly 15,000 synthetic chemicals that have seen wide use in consumer products since the 1940s. PFAS are generally highly durable and water-resistant, and as a result are referred to as “forever chemicals” that can persist in the environment, water, air, soil and even the human body for long periods of time.
“An analysis of data from the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) estimates that at least 95% of Americans have PFAS chemicals in their bodies,” Pugh said. “Because of the many kinds of PFAS, and their wide range of uses, they are difficult to study. However, many studies have found that exposure to certain types of PFAS can have serious impacts on human health, including decreased fertility, developmental delays in children, increased risk of certain cancers, hormone disruption, inhibited immune system responses and more.
“While our federal and state agencies have taken effective steps that already have or are estimated to reduce the levels of PFAS exposure of Americans, there are still many sources of exposure that are not well understood. Ingesting contaminated food and water is one of the most common avenues of human exposure, which makes it critical that we fully understand how these chemicals enter our food and water supplies.”
House Bill 1116 has been referred to the Environmental and Natural Resources Protection Committee.
Residents are encouraged to follow this link to see the bills and resolutions Pugh is supporting for the 2025-26 Legislative Session. All residents are encouraged to contact their legislators and encourage their support of this bill.
The 120th Legislative District includes Courtdale, Exeter, Forty Fort, Kingston, Luzerne, Pringle, Swoyersville, West Wyoming and Wyoming boroughs, as well as Dallas, Exeter, Franklin, Jackson and Kingston townships in Luzerne County.
Representative Brenda Pugh
120th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Melissa Fox
717.260.6522
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