European Chemicals Agency

• Waters Oasis™ Dual-phase PFAS Analysis Cartridges simplify sample preparation for EPA 1633 testing for analysis of PFAS concentrations in non-potable water, soils, biosolids, and tissue.
• MILFORD, Mass., March 14, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Waters Corporation (NYSE:WAT) announces new Oasis WAX/GCB and GCB/WAX for PFAS Analysis Cartridges with new design features that significantly streamline and expedite sample preparation and analysis of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
• Oasis WAX/GCB & GCB/WAX Cartridges are the latest products within Waters extensive portfolio of PFAS testing solutions.
• Oasis WAX/GCB and GCB/WAX Cartridges are the latest products within a comprehensive portfolio of PFAS Testing Solutions offered by Waters to support the surging demand for PFAS environmental testing.

• Escaping to somewhere seemingly so pristine felt like a world away from where I grew up in London.
• Certain PFAS are used in ski wax applied to skis and snowboards as lubrication.
• A new study has found high PFAS concentrations in ski waxes and in the snow and soil sampled from popular skiing areas in Austria.

The problem with persistence

• Because PFAS don’t break down easily, they can persist inside our bodies or in the environment for many years.
• Some PFAS can be toxic to humans and wildlife, with links to cancers, developmental and reproductive problems, hormone disruption, diabetes and obesity.

A slippery slope?

• In 2010, a Swedish study, found high levels of various PFAS in ski wax and in the blood of ski-waxing technicians.
• The fascinating thing about the new study is the potential for these chemicals to transfer into the environment from recreational and professional skiing equipment.
• The researchers highlight how the PFAS profiles (the combination of different PFAS found in each sample) differed between locations and sample types.
• This variability was attributed to differences between ski waxes that had been manufactured at different times or in different places.

A class-based approach

• This has invariably led to the replacement of banned chemicals with structurally similar ones.
• If accepted by member states, it could prove a significant step towards the beginning of the end for forever chemicals.
• But a ban that only applies to professional competition won’t stop PFAS chemicals from reaching the slopes.

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Daniel Drage has previously worked on projects funded by the Natural Environment Research Council and the Environmental Protection Agency of Ireland. He is a Lecturer in Environmental Health at the University of Birmingham, and an Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Queensland (Australia).

• BOSTON, July 26, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Nanoramic Laboratories "Nanoramic" and E-Lyte Innovations GmbH "E-Lyte" have entered into a strategic R&D partnership to develop breakthrough battery technologies, based on Nanoramic's Neocarbonix® at the Core electrode technology and E-Lyte's high-performance electrolytes.
• The partnership focuses, among other things, on the development of an advanced PFAS-free alternative for electric vehicle batteries that is ready for commercialization.
• Nanoramic already offers a solution to potential upcoming restrictions in the battery industry through its PFAS-free Neocarbonix electrode technology.
• E-Lyte is developing a customized electrolyte to optimize the performance of Neocarbonix in innovative cell systems.

• M. Holland Company, a leading international distributor of thermoplastic resins and ancillary materials , today announced a new partnership with Febo S.p.A , an established European distributor of thermoplastic resins and petrochemical products.
• Under the agreement, Febo will have distribution rights for M. Holland products in Italy, Greece and the Balkans.
• The partnership enables M. Holland to bring materials to customers in new regions through Febo’s extensive commercial and logistics network, which includes eight warehouses in Italy and Greece.
• “Our partnership with Febo represents a significant milestone in M. Holland’s global growth strategy,” said Steve Armstrong, vice president of international resale at M. Holland.