State officials from NJDEP and stakeholders examined next steps and innovations in PFAS reduction strategies in NJ during the PFAS Summit at NJIT.

Last week, Environment New Jersey attended a two-day PFAS Summit at NJIT in Newark. The event was hosted by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), who convened experts to discuss the challenges and opportunities in addressing these “forever chemicals.” Experts at the summit focused on key topics, including the health effects and prevalence of PFAS in water soils, strategies to combat these chemicals in New Jersey, and regulatory actions being taken by other states.

Jessie Gleason, a research scientist at the New Jersey Department of Health, highlighted worrying effects of continued and elevated PFAS exposure. PFAS buildup in our bodies are linked to decreased birth weight, decreased antibody response, developmental issues, and increased risk of kidney and testicular cancers.

Echoing Environment New Jersey’s No Toxic on Tap campaign, Gleason emphasized “drinking water is the top exposure (to PFAS) to be worried about.”