Welcome to this Special Focus Publication, a compelling exploration of how the United States is confronting the challenge of PFAS through transformative EPA policies and innovative technologies that aim to eliminate contamination at its source.
Across the United States, a quiet but powerful threat has been unfolding. For decades, synthetic compounds known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances – or PFAS – have been seeping into soil, waterways, and even our bloodstreams. Once valued for their ability to resist water, oil, and stains, these ‘forever chemicals’ are now recognised for their extraordinary persistence in the environment and the human body.
Their strength lies in the carbon–fluorine bond – one of the toughest in chemistry – which makes PFAS almost impossible to break down. As a result, they move through soil and water, accumulate in wildlife, and persist within us for generations. Unlike many pollutants that degrade naturally, PFAS remain, contaminating ecosystems and drinking water supplies.
The PFAS threat
The dangers of PFAS in the US are both environmental and human. Exposure has been linked to increased cholesterol levels, changes in liver enzymes, reduced vaccine responses, pregnancy-induced hypertension, small decreases in birth weight, and elevated risks of cancers.
Beyond their health impacts, PFAS contamination carries a vast economic burden, costing the US billions of dollars each year in health-related expenses. These chemicals have infiltrated the food we eat, the water we drink, and the environments we depend on, making their elimination a national priority.
Addressing PFAS in the US demands more than short-term fixes – it requires innovation, regulation, and collective commitment to end the era of forever chemicals once and for all. This publication delves into the multi-faceted battle against PFAS, exploring the regulatory frameworks being put in place and the groundbreaking technological solutions rising to meet this urgent threat.
Innovation that destroys PFAS, not just contains it
This publication kicks off by spotlighting Invicta Water, a company delivering a technological breakthrough for PFAS in the US. Traditional methods, such as activated carbon, ion exchange, or reverse osmosis, can remove PFAS but fail to destroy them, creating new waste challenges. Invicta Water’s system changes that paradigm.
Using a three-step process – Lift, Lock, Break – the company concentrates and then fully breaks down PFAS molecules under mild, ambient conditions using light-activated crystalline catalysts. The result is complete destruction without hazardous by-products. It is a transformative shift from temporary management to permanent elimination.
The EPA’s leadership in the fight against PFAS
Complementing Invicta Water’s innovation, the second article explores how the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is confronting PFAS contamination through science, regulation, and collaboration. The Agency’s approach is grounded in four principles: strengthening scientific understanding, fulfilling statutory obligations, enhancing communication, and building partnerships.
From advancing a comprehensive PFAS Testing Strategy under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to supporting the international AFFF Phase-Out in the Arctic initiative, the EPA’s actions underscore a commitment to global and domestic progress alike. New programmes such as PFAS OUTreach and Tackling Emerging Contaminants (TEC) WaterTA extend technical assistance and funding support to water systems and communities across the nation. Together, these efforts reflect a growing determination to safeguard public health, strengthen environmental protections, and hold polluters accountable.
A new era for PFAS in the US
This publication combines vital perspectives: the EPA’s leadership in regulation and community support, and Invicta Water’s innovation in chemical destruction. Together, they illustrate a national momentum – one where science, policy, and technology converge to protect people, restore ecosystems, and move toward a future free from forever chemicals.
