Forever Chemicals in Oregon? Not If We Stop Them.
PFAS are called “forever chemicals” for a reason: once they’re in the environment, they stick around – causing harm for generations. This group of synthetic chemicals are added to products to deflect heat, grease, and water. But, instead of helping, these toxic chemicals are causing severe harm: raising cancer risks, disrupting hormones, causing neurodevelopmental effects in children, and endangering first responders, like firefighters, who protect our communities.
Right now, health issues from PFAS mirror the top two leading causes of death in our state: cancer and heart disease. We know PFAS are a negative health burden that Oregon can avoid. That’s why OEC is working to phase out these toxic chemicals for good.
In February, I caught up with KMUZ for a special episode – Elephant in the Room Explores “Forever Chemicals” – to chat about the dangers of PFAS and the importance of phasing them out. In Oregon for example, a type of firefighting foam containing PFAS (called AFFF) is still widely in use. Firefighters have a 9% higher risk of being diagnosed with cancer and a 14% higher risk of dying from cancer than the general U.S. population. Fighting fires is, by definition, dangerous work – and PFAS-laden firefighting foam is one danger that we have the ability to remove from the equation. At least 27 states have switched to a foam that does not contain PFAS – and it’s past time for Oregon to do the same.
2025 Legislation to Phase Out PFAS:
No one should be exposed to hazardous PFAS chemicals when safer alternative products exist. Our legislative allies in Salem (lawmakers, medical providers, environmental organizations, firefighter groups) all agree. That’s why we’re working to stop PFAS at the source. We can prevent these chemicals from getting into our environments and putting our health — and the health of all living things in Oregon — at risk.
This session, OEC is working on two key bills that would require Oregon to switch to PFAS-free firefighting foam (SB 91), and to phase out PFAS use from firefighting foam and consumer products (HB 3512).
AFFF Fire Fighting Foam Phaseout (SB 91)
About the Bill: Firefighting foam shouldn’t poison the firefighters using it. Senate bill 91 protects firefighters by ending the use of a type of fire fighting foam that contains PFAS. Firefighters have higher rates of cancer than the general US population – and higher risks from exposures to toxic PFAS. Safe and effective fire fighting foams without PFAS now exist. Oregon should join the majority of states who only allow the use of toxic-free foam. Not only will this prevent firefighter illness, it will also keep these toxic chemicals out of Oregon’s water. PFAS harms our fish and natural systems – and eventually makes its way to our water supplies, where current technology cannot remove these contaminants.
Action on the Bill: In 2024, OEC began working with Senator Sollman to craft this important legislation on PFAS. With Senator Sollman’s leadership, this bill was voted out of the Senate Energy and Environment Committee in late February with a majority of support. Then, just last week SB 91 passed the Oregon Senate floor with strong bipartisan support. While the session is far from over, and anything can still happen, Senator Sollman’s partnership on this important environmental issue helped our bill make it through the chamber.
PFAS Phaseout (HB 3512)
About the Bill: House Bill 3512 would align Oregon’s policies with other states that are phasing out PFAS from firefighting foam and consumer products. Safer products without PFAS exist. Oregon should use these products. HB 3512 would phase out added PFAS from firefighting foam, artificial turf, cleaning products, carpets and rugs, cookware, cosmetics, dental floss, fabric treatments, packaging, juvenile products, menstrual products, refrigerators, textiles, apparel and ski wax. In fact, more than half of states – from Alaska to Virginia – have phased out PFAS from firefighting foam, and many of these same products. By building on the proven success of other states, we can improve health for Oregonians in a feasible and fiscally responsible way.
Action on the Bill: HB 3512 is a comprehensive PFAS phaseout bill. OEC is working diligently with sponsors in both chambers to champion this legislation – chief sponsors of the bill are: Representative Neron, Representative Andersen, and Senator Patterson. The first big step for any bill is to pass out of committee, and that deadline is quickly approaching (on March 21). Excitingly, HB 3512 had an initial hearing on 3/13/2025 in the House Climate, Energy and Environment Committee. An article by ABC’s KATU-2: “Oregon lawmakers push to ban toxic PFAS chemicals by 2026,” covered the hearing and OEC’s support of the legislation. For HB 3512 to progress, a work session must be scheduled by March 20.
Legislation phasing out PFAS is critical for Oregon to:
✔ Protect children’s health. Children are at a higher risk for toxic exposure because of their physiology, ongoing development, and behaviors such as crawling. We should continue to protect Oregon’s children from toxics and build on efforts like the Toxic Free Kids Act and the Toxic Free Cosmetic Act. PFAS accumulates in the environment, so any reduction in use helps safeguard the health of children.
✔ Prevent firefighter illness. Firefighters have a 9% higher risk of being diagnosed with cancer and a 14% higher risk of dying from cancer than the general U.S. population. Fire suppressing foam shouldn’t poison the firefighters using this material.
✔ Reduce contamination. When we stop PFAS at the source, we prevent these chemicals from getting into our environments, where they jeopardize the health of Oregon’s communities and wildlife alike. Some estimates predict large cost increases for waste water systems to address PFAS contaminants, but Oregon can get ahead of these impacts by phasing out use of PFAS.
✔ Ensure clean drinking water. Keeping contaminants out of our water means healthy Oregonians. Ratepayers shouldn’t be stuck with the bill for ongoing water treatment costs.
✔ Prevent toxic product dumping. As other states phase out harmful PFAS-laden products, Oregon shouldn’t become a dumping ground for companies who can’t sell these products elsewhere.
Toxic chemicals don’t belong in our bodies or our communities. With the right policies in place, we can phase out PFAS in Oregon! This transformative change is within reach, but we need your voice to make it happen.
Sign up for OEC Action Alerts, and we’ll let you know when and how to take action to phase out PFAS in our state. OEC Action Alerts also include opportunities to speak up on other legislation we’re supporting this session.
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