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Join University of Arizona (U of A) researchers along with officials from Tucson Water and the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality for an in-depth look at the state of “forever chemical” regulation and management in Arizona.
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) present a profound and evolving challenge. PFAS—also known as "forever chemicals"—are a group of chemicals widely used in an array of consumer goods, from stain-resistant textiles and firefighting foam to medical devices and food packaging. Largely unregulated for the duration of their existence, these chemicals are now known to cause a range of health impacts on living beings, even in small amounts. PFAS are in our water, soils, food, consumer products, and even the air. Their extreme persistence, widespread use, multiple health impacts, and uneven social distribution complicate traditional approaches to contaminant management and environmental governance.
In Arizona, where PFAS management decisions intersect with water scarcity, rapid population growth, and diverse communities, we face important questions about long-term environmental sustainability, public health, and equitable risk management. Now is a critical time to act; with federal and state rules evolving, decisions made across Arizona over how to manage PFAS today will have implications for sustainability trade-offs for decades to come.
The U of A is emerging as a national hub of expertise on PFAS across multiple disciplines. U of A researchers will be engaged in a two-day science-policy-community conversation about PFAS concurrent with this public panel discussion. Join our community of experts for this free event to learn about PFAS contamination in the state, as well as what’s being done to regulate these troublesome chemicals.
Agenda
4:30-5:00
Registration & Light Refreshments
5:00-5:15
Welcome
- Andrea Gerlak, Professor, Director Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy
- Tomás Díaz de la Rubia, PhD, Senior Vice President for Research and Partnerships
5:15-6:15
Panel Discussion
John Kmiec, Tucson Water
Matt Narter, Arizona Department of Environmental Quality
Heather Whiteman Runs Him, James E. Rogers College of Law, University of Arizona
Paloma Beamer, Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona
Gemma Smith, School of Government & Public Policy and Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy, University of Arizona
Jon Chorover, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, University of Arizona
Moderated by Andrea Gerlak