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www.theguardian.com EPA’s new definition of PFAS could omit thousands of ‘forever chemicals’

Agency plans to take a ‘case-by-case’ approach that allows it to be more flexible, but critics argue ‘it is a lack of definition, and it makes no sense’

EPA’s new definition of PFAS could omit thousands of ‘forever chemicals’

>In a statement to the Guardian, the EPA said its latest definition was more “expansive” than the previous. Its approach was designed “to focus on substances most likely to be persistent in the environment, including some chemical substances whose structures or sub-structures resemble, at least in part” more thoroughly studied PFAS compounds, like PFOS and PFOA.

>But public health advocates warn that all PFAS are persistent in the environment and all that have been studied are toxic, and for those reasons many are calling on the government to largely restrict the entire chemical class.

>Speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisal, a current EPA employee in the toxics office said the chemical’s definition has been evolving for several years. The employee said they first learned of the latest change in public comments made by Michal Freedhoff, a Biden-appointed toxics office administrator.

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Robotaxi rollout in San Francisco going about as well as expected
www.theguardian.com Robotaxi breakdowns cause mayhem in San Francisco days after expansion vote

Public utilities commission had allowed Google’s Waymo and General Motors’ Cruise to operate all day in a vote on Thursday

Robotaxi breakdowns cause mayhem in San Francisco days after expansion vote

>“They’re causing mad confusion over here,” the user said. A Twitter user shared a video of a Cruise vehicle nearly running over a family on a crosswalk over the weekend. In San Francisco’s North Beach neighborhood, as many as 10 Cruise cars blocked a main thoroughfare, stoking anger from locals.

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