The Fight Against Forever Chemicals is Far From Over

Polyfluoroalkyl substances (more commonly known as PFAS) are in our drinking water, our soil, and our rivers. Georgia is no stranger to PFAS. For nearly a century, just about every manufacturing process imaginable has used these chemicals. So why should Georgians care now? Six public water systems in Georgia alone were found to have levels of PFAS between three and ten times the EPA limit. Four of these are in north Georgia, a carpet manufacturing capital. This industry in particular has been accused of, and is facing extensive litigation for, discharging these chemicals into public water sources, including rivers supplying drinking water. The health of Georgians is at risk from a chemical threat that currently lingers everywhere, and it’s within our lawmakers’ power to change this.

To understand what the Georgia legislature can do about it, it’s essential to first understand what exactly the danger imposed by these chemicals is. Polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, are synthetic chemicals used in a large variety of industrial and consumer operations. These range from food packaging to non-stick products to electronics and textile manufacturing. Moreover, PFAS are infamous for being extremely resistant to natural degradation. This means they’re found in the tissues and bodily fluids of people all over the world. Thus known as “forever chemicals,” PFAS have been in use since the 1940s. Research has linked their consumption and contact with animals to health issues like cancer, birth defects, high blood pressure, developmental defects, hormonal changes and immune suppression.

Research shows that the problem is already severe. In a June 2025 study, 40% of participants in Rome and Calhoun indicated higher perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) levels than 95% of the US population. Similarly, 11.9% of these participants showed higher perfluorohexane sulfonate (or PFHxS, a type of PFAS) levels than 95% of the US population. These levels call for additional medical evaluation in at least 76% of those tested and signal for urgent action to reduce PFAS emission for Georgians. 

Here’s the problem: human exposure to PFAS is nearly unavoidable in daily life because these chemicals are truly everywhere. As previously mentioned, they are found in many everyday products. As a result, PFAS are highly likely to contaminate food and water, which accumulate in humans through consumption of contaminated items. Exposure can also be caused by physical contact with products made using PFAS or by breathing air containing PFAS.

To this end, Georgia’s Environmental Protection Division (EPD) has taken action to monitor current levels of PFAS in Georgia’s natural environments and public infrastructure, including public drinking water systems. They’ve cooperated with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to better monitor PFAS levels. In particular, they focused on monitoring groundwater near polluted areas. However, these measures don’t prevent manufacturers from releasing these chemicals into the environment. Only legislation can do that. And right now, legislators are trying to put forth a bill to restrict local governments from filing legal action against these manufacturers, rather than protect the health and safety of Georgians.

Senate Bill 577 (SB 577), titled the “Coordinated PFAS Remediation Act,” acknowledges the dangers of PFAS. However, rather than make it easier to sue companies that knowingly put these chemicals into drinking water, the bill would make it more difficult. It would give the Georgia Attorney General exclusive authority to bring PFAS pollution lawsuits against carpet manufacturers and chemical makers. In addition, it would prevent local governments from filing these cases. As a result, local authorities would be unable to support efforts to eliminate PFAS for the health and safety of their citizens. Currently, lawsuits are pending against at least 11 carpet and chemical manufacturers who allegedly hid the dangers of these chemicals for decades. SB 577 would affect all of these cases, present and future. 

While, as of this current legislative session, SB577 is now dead, lawmakers must be vigilant to prevent any similar legislation from passing in the future – by voting against it, and by proposing bills that actively hold corporate entities liable for the damage they cause to Georgians.

The state of policy against PFAS pollution in Georgia is weak. Only four bills in the past ten years have been enacted to inform the public and protect citizens. What’s worse, one of those four was designed to protect companies undergoing litigation for PFAS pollution. The Georgia General Assembly should pursue policies that directly target the companies that emit PFAS. An effective policy could revoke wastewater discharge licenses of industries that expel wastewater with PFAS levels above the national standard. Establishing these limits and enforcing them by affecting their operations would incentivize these companies to reduce pollution. While one policy won’t fix the issue, state-level discussions about PFAS need to target the source of the issue – corporations. Eliminating legal rights for local governments only hurts Georgians. Protection and accountability can help them.