Several household items containing forever chemicals will be banned in Illinois
Daily household items that have intentionally included forever chemicals will be banned from being sold in Illinois by 2032, following a passing vote through the Illinois legislature.
Here’s what you need to know.
What are PFAS?
Forever chemicals, or Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances known as PFAS are synthetic, long-lasting chemicals, and have been used since the 1950s for water repellent. PFAS contain at least one fully fluorinated carbon atom, and scientific studies show exposure can cause negative reproductive effects and increased risk of certain cancers.
PFAS Reduction Act
House Bill 2516, commonly known as the PFAS Reduction Act, passed in the Senate in a vote 77 to 39. Beginning in 2032 the sale and distribution of certain items with intentionally added forever chemicals in the state will be against the law.
Unintentionally added PFAS that occur during the process of production through water contamination are not part of the bill, as well as firefighting foam, which is commonly made using PFAS.
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What does the bill impact?
Items protected from added PFAS under the bill are cosmetics, dental floss, children’s products, menstrual products and intimate apparel.
Firefighting foams, medical devices, and items made without planned added PFAS are not penalized under the new bill.
Implementation delayed, items removed
Originally, the bill called for implementation in 2026 and included cookware like nonstick pans and food storage to be lumped in with the rest of the list. In a senate amendment on May 13 however, the articles were dropped, and a clause was added requiring the EPA to prepare and submit a report to the General Assembly by August of 2027.
The report will include an assessment of statutory and regulatory authority, administrative infrastructure, research capabilities, and funding necessary to develop and implement a program for the review of certain chemicals and their threat to our health and environment.
What are the penalties for breaking the law?
If a manufacturer or vendor violates the act, they’ll be hit with a civil penalty up to $5,000 for the first violation, and up to $10,000 for each subsequent violation. The collected funds will be deposited into the Environmental Protection Trust Fund.
Violators when the law comes into effect will be enforced by the Attorney General or the State’s Attorney of the county where the violation occurred.
How does PFAS end up in everything?
PFAS are pervasive in products and people. When PFAS is put in everyday shopping items, at some point the products will end up disposed of in landfills and contaminate soil and water.
A 2024 report by Greenmatters found 100% of tested breast milk samples in a study came back positive for forever chemicals. Tests conducted searched for fluorine, which is a possible indicator of PFAS.
In a Bettergoods report, the researchers tested over 100 different period products, including tampons, pads, cups, and reusable underwear. In the report, 48% of sanitary pads, incontinence pads, and panty liners tested were found to contain PFAS, as were 22% of tampons and 65% of period underwear.
Why are PFAS used?
Because the chemicals are structured to be resistant to water, durable when faced with heat and long lasting, their main uses can range from firefighting foam to extinguish fires, water-resistant makeup, stain resistant textile to prosthetic and orthotic medical devices.
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How can I tell if what I bought has PFAS?
Not all products list PFAS in the manufacturing ingredients list, but context clues can help lead to making good decisions on whether or not a product likely contains PFAS.
Terms like “non-stick,” “waterproof,” “stain-resistant,” or “wrinkle-free” often indicate that PFAS may have been used.
To tell if a cosmetic item, children’s item or any other product that may contain the chemicals, read the INCI list on the back of the product. The main PFAS you may find are PTFE.
To avoid makeup and personal care products with intentionally-added PFAS, you can check the label for ingredients with “fluoro” in the name, such as polytetrafluoroethylene or DEA-C8-18 perfluoroalkylethyl phosphate.
Voluminous Lash Paradise Liquid Mascara, Telescopic waterproof mascara variations from L’Oreal have been found to contain PFAS.
Claire Grant writes about business, growth and development and other news topics for The State Journal-Register. She can be reached at CLGrant@gannett.com; and on X (Formerly known as Twitter): @Claire_Granted
