State Leaders Must Test Pesticides for Toxic Forever Chemicals Now
Toxic PFAS have been found in some pesticides – where they’re not supposed to be. We’re demanding state leaders take immediate action to curb this toxic threat.

Toxic PFAS have been found in some pesticides – where they’re not supposed to be. We’re demanding state leaders take immediate action to curb this toxic threat.
“Millions of acres across New England are being blanketed with toxic forever chemicals,” said CLF President Bradley Campbell. “It is all but certain that dangerous PFAS are leaching into groundwater and threatening to poison communities that depend on that water to drink. Leaders across New England need to step up and protect public health by stopping the use of PFAS-laden pesticides until we’re certain they aren’t poisoning our food and water.”
“The legislature has taken a major step forward to protect communities and firefighters from toxic forever chemicals,” said Jen Duggan, Vice President and Director of CLF Vermont. “PFAS wreak havoc on our health and they have no place in products we use every day. Vermont has the opportunity to lead the nation in protecting people from PFAS, and Governor Scott must sign this bill into law.”
May 4, 2021 (MONTPELIER, VT) – Today, Vermont’s House of Representatives gave unanimous initial approval to a bill that would restrict the sale of consumer products that contain toxic chemicals known as PFAS. After final approval, the bill will head back to the Senate, where they will consider the House amendments. The Senate unanimously approved… Continue reading Vermont Legislature Advances Bill to Ban Forever Chemicals from Products
The water is used in the plant for cooling, and “waste heat from the boilers ends up in the cooling waters, which are then discharged,” as Irwin explained. Impingement occurs when fish are sucked up and smashed into grates in the river meant to prevent logs and other debris from entering the plant. Oftentimes, the delicate fish are killed on impact.
“The decision not to regulate more of these toxic chemicals in our water is deeply disturbing,” said Jen Duggan, Vice President and Director of CLF Vermont. “It doesn’t make sense to continue this whack-a-mole approach to removing these chemicals from drinking water. People’s health will suffer as a result of this decision.”
Vermonters have said no to lead, BPA, mercury, flame retardants, and more in our consumer products. Now it’s time to tackle toxic PFAS chemicals.
“This has been a long and contentious road to reduce nitrogen pollution in the estuary,” Paly said. “After many, many years, it’s really gratifying to see municipalities coming together, working more collaboratively with CLF and other stakeholders to start down a new path, and hopefully the estuary will be the better for it.”
“Nitrogen pollution is a scourge on our Great Bay estuary, including the many bays and rivers that are part of it,” Melissa Paly, Great Bay-Piscataqua Waterkeeper at CLF, wrote in a separate statement. “This agreement gives the communities surrounding Great Bay flexibility in how they will reduce this harmful pollution, but also accountability to ensure real progress.”
“Nitrogen pollution is a scourge on our Great Bay estuary, including the many bays and rivers that are part of it,” said Melissa Paly, Great Bay-Piscataqua Waterkeeper at CLF. “This agreement gives the communities surrounding Great Bay flexibility in how they will reduce this harmful pollution, but also accountability to ensure real progress. We’re looking forward to working together with these communities to advance innovative solutions to combat this problem and create healthier waterways for everyone.”