FDA Testing Finds PFAS in 50% of Infant Formula Samples, with Levels Below Key Safety Limits

U.S. Food and Drug Administration tested 312 formula samples for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as PFAS. The agency detected five PFAS in the tested samples, with PFOS found in half of all samples.

9 parts per trillion of the chemical. PFOS appeared at a maximum concentration of 6 parts per trillion in the formulas, according to Alex Bogdan, toxicologist at the Minnesota Department of Public Health. PFOA was not detected in any of the formulas.

Five percent of samples were reported above 28 parts per trillion, all for PFBA and below the limit of quantitation except one at 34 parts per trillion. The Minnesota Department of Health's guidance value for PFBA is 7,000 parts per trillion.

Powdered soy-based formulas tended to contain PFBA, while about 60% of dairy-based formulas tested contained PFOS. S. consume formula. The PFAS detected primarily originate from stock materials like milk and soy used in production.

Powdered formulas are reconstituted with water, and parents should check public water systems for PFAS contamination, as filters can address it if needed. In parallel efforts to reduce pollution from small engines, Australian governments banned the sale of two-stroke tools in 2020.

Australia imports more than 1 million outdoor power tools each year, including lawnmowers, leaf blowers, hedge trimmers, chainsaws, chippers and pressure washers.

Operating a commercial leaf blower for an hour produces the same amount of air pollutants as driving 1,700 km, equivalent to the distance from Melbourne to Brisbane, according to the California Air Resources Board. An hour of lawn mowing is equivalent to driving about 480 km.

On a summer weekend in Australia, small non-road engines from lawn mowing and recreational boating contribute up to 20% of certain air pollution types, including carbon monoxide and volatile organic compounds.

In California, small non-road engines overtook cars as the main source of smog-forming pollution in 2020. Battery-electric alternatives are now available for most types of home and garden power tools, said Harry Barber, transport consultant and volunteer at Electrify Yarra. Barber stated, "Whether it’s a mower, or a blower, or a whipper-snipper, or a chainsaw.

Most manufacturers sell one battery usable across multiple tools. Dozens of cities across the United States have banned the sale of petrol-powered leaf blowers or introduced incentives to encourage electric lawn equipment. About 57% of Australians say they are happy to get on the tools for home and garden repairs and improvements, according to one survey.

Brunswick Tool Library has operated for 13 years in Melbourne’s inner north, with almost 1,400 members and dozens of active volunteers. Its inventory includes more than 2,000 items, from Allen keys, spanners and clamps to ladders, pressure washers and lawnmowers. " Mulchers, lawnmowers, whipper-snippers and drill kits are on high rotation at the library.

There are more than 100 neighbourhood repair cafes around Australia. Australian households have up to eight large appliances and between 10 and 15 smaller ones on average, according to Prof Leanne Wiseman of Griffith University. RepairMonitor tracks data from repair cafes globally and shows pruning shears, electric drills, hedge trimmers and pressure washers as commonly fixed items.

The City of Melbourne’s libraries host crafting and DIY spaces with onsite access to tools including sewing and embroidery machines, 3D printers, laser cutters and soldering.