From pesticides to PFAS: the challenges of these new classes of chemicals for research and for the implementation of regulations in California

Focus of the ExposUM permanent seminar: "Interaction between research, policy and social players".

Pesticides or Perennial Chemicals (PFAS) are often presented as being less toxicologically hazardous and less persistent in the environment than older generations of chemicals. However, recent research has revealed that new-generation pesticides, such as neonicotinoids, designed to target the nAChR receptor in certain insects, have effects on non-target species. Similarly, short-chain PFASs have been promoted as safer alternatives to long-chain PFASs recognized as toxic, ubiquitous and persistent in the environment. These short-chain PFASs also exhibit remarkable biological and toxicological activities. In this presentation, we will review some of the emerging toxicological evidence on these two types of chemicals and discuss the challenges and limitations of their regulation, particularly in the Californian context.

The newer generations of chemicals such as pesticides or forever chemicals (PFAS) are often touted as toxicologically safer with less environmental persistence. However, emerging research evidence revealed that newer generations pesticides such as neonicotinoids still display off-target despite being engineered to target the insect nAChR receptor. Similarly, shorter chain PFAS have been promoted as safer alternatives to the toxic, ubiquitous, and persistent longer-chain, legacy PFAS. However, these shorter chain PFAS also show remarkable biological and toxicological activity casting doubt on the validity of proposed regulation of PFAS by chemical class. In this presentation, we will review some of the emerging toxicological evidence on these two types of chemicals and discuss the challenges and limits of their regulation, specifically within the context of California.

Speaker:

Patrick Allard, Mak'it guest, Professor at the Institute for Society and Genetics at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), researcher in genetics, epigenetics, developmental biology and environmental health.

Event organized as part of the Institut ExposUM, in collaboration with Mak'it, with support from MSH-SUD.