PFAS (Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a class of over 4,000 chemicals linked to health effects including cancer, thyroid disease, asthma and ulcerative colitis. PFAS have been used in used in products like nonstick pots and pans, firefighting foam, carpets and furniture, and they’re increasingly being found in drinking water, waterways, and food across the country.
To further educate local residents and environmental groups, we’re planning a special forum on Sept. 12, 2019, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Marriott Hotel near the Pittsburgh International Airport. The panel will be moderated by Kristina Marusic, a reporter with Environmental Health News, and Oliver Morrison, a reporter with PublicSource, who have led news coverage of PFAS in the Pittsburgh region.
Speakers
– Carla Ng, a PFAS researcher at the University of Pittsburgh
– Caitlin Berretta, the manager of business develpoment at Evoqua, a company headquartered in PIttsburgh that does PFAS remediation
– Melanie Benesh, the legislative attorney for the Environmental Working Group, a non-profit that has done extensive PFAS research
– Hope Grosse and Joanne Stanton, residents in Eastern Pennsylvania who have lived near PFAS contamination (via video chat)
– Lisa Daniels, DEP’s director of the Bureau of Safe Drinking Water
There will be time for a Q&A with the audience.
Emcees
Kristina Marusic, Environmental Health News
Oliver Morrison, PublicSource
Environmental Health News and PublicSource.org have partnered to report on PFAS contamination in the Pittsburgh region. So far, we’ve reported on the state’s new PFAS task force, raised questions about the plan for a drinking water standard, highlighted PFAS contamination on local military bases and airports, and called attention to the widespread use of a type of farm fertilizer that could be contaminated throughout the state.
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