Log in or register
Share on LinkedInShare on LinkedIn

ARTICLE · 02 JUNE 2021

Final Minimum Risk Levels For PFAS: What Do They Mean?

Dickinson Wright PLLC
Dickinson Wright PLLC
Contributor
Dickinson Wright PLLC

Dickinson Wright PLLC

Dickinson Wright is a full-service law firm with more than 550 lawyers, serving clients across the...

View firm profile
Explore more from Dickinson Wright PLLC

In May 2021, the federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) finalized a report containing toxicological profiles and associated Minimal Risk Levels (MRLs) for several perfluoroalkyls (PFAS),...

United StatesEnvironment
Madeline P. Fleisher
Madeline P. Fleisher
Author LinkedIn connections

In May 2021, the federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) finalized a report containing toxicological profiles and associated Minimal Risk Levels (MRLs) for several perfluoroalkyls (PFAS), a family of chemicals marked by their persistence in the environment, bioaccumulation in human and animal tissue, and toxicity at extremely low levels (in the parts per trillion).1 You may have seen PFAS flagged as contaminants of concern at sites across the country or seen the film "Dark Waters" about PFAS toxic tort litigation. Whatever the context, you probably know that PFAS regulation and liability issues are evolving at a rapid pace. So what does ATSDR's new report mean going forward?

We operate a free-to-view policy, asking only that you register in order to read all of our content. Please login or register to view the rest of this article.

Register for freeORLog in

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.

View source

Related Articles

Legal Intelligence Newsletters: sign up for the latest legal and regulatory news on your chosen topics

Read more about

Related Comparative Guides

See more popular content from

Article

Texas Governor Abbott Directs TCEQ To Freeze All Data Center Permits In A Whole-of-Government Action

Governor Greg Abbott has ordered the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to immediately halt all environmental permits for data center projects, expanding a statewide regulatory freeze that now encompasses power, water, and environmental approvals. This directive establishes strict operational mandates requiring data centers to fully fund infrastructure costs, report all resource consumption...
United StatesEnvironment
Foley & Lardner LLP
Foley & Lardner LLP
Article

Governor Abbott Orders TCEQ To Pause All Permit Issuance For Data Center Projects

Governor Abbott has ordered Texas environmental regulators to halt all data center permit issuance until grid operators complete a comprehensive audit in mid-December 2026. The sweeping directive affects not only grid-connected facilities but also fully islanded data centers relying on behind-the-meter generation, creating uncertainty for developers and their contractual obligations.
United StatesEnvironment
Bracewell LLP
Bracewell LLP
Article

California SB 253: CARB Sets Nov. 10, 2026, Deadline For Scope 1 And Scope 2 Emissions Reports

California's Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act (SB 253) establishes a November 10, 2026 deadline for Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions reporting, affecting U.S.-formed entities with over $1 billion in revenue that meet California's "doing business" test—regardless of physical presence in the state. The law carries penalties up to $500,000 per reporting year for non-compliance, with mandatory program fees and future Scope 3 reporting requirements on the horizon.
United StatesEnvironment
Greenberg Traurig
Greenberg Traurig
Article

Texas Governor Directs A Halt On Data Center Permitting With State Agency Audits

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has directed state agencies to halt all data center permits until comprehensive audits assess the projects' impacts on electric infrastructure, residential ratepayers, and water resources. The directive requires data centers to fully fund necessary electric infrastructure and comply with enhanced reporting requirements, while the governor signals potential legislative action to codify new protections and phase out certain tax incentives.
United StatesEnvironment
Greenberg Traurig
Greenberg Traurig
Article

Governor Signs Seven Data Center Bills Addressing Energy And Noise Reporting, Water Use, Labor Standards, Electricity Rates, And CEQA Review

California has enacted seven unprecedented bills targeting data center development, imposing sweeping new requirements for energy reporting, water consumption assessments, labor standards, and electricity rate structures. These laws fundamentally reshape the regulatory landscape for data centers, requiring detailed disclosures at multiple project stages while prohibiting categorical CEQA exemptions and establishing new interconnection rules that shift infrastructure costs directly to developers.
United StatesEnvironment
Cox, Castle & Nicholson
Cox, Castle & Nicholson
Article

The Chemical Compound — Q3 2026

This quarterly newsletter examines critical developments in chemical regulatory law, covering litigation outcomes that reshape EPA's authority under TSCA, landmark Supreme Court decisions on pesticide labeling preemption, and emerging state and international frameworks governing PFAS and other chemicals of concern. The edition analyzes how recent Fifth Circuit rulings on methylene chloride regulations may fundamentally alter EPA's approach to risk evaluations and management rules across its entire existing
United StatesEnvironment
Arnold & Porter
Arnold & Porter
Article

CEQA Reform Qualifies For The Ballot: What To Know About The Building An Affordable California Act

California voters will decide on Proposition 45 this November, a sweeping initiative that would fundamentally reshape environmental review for housing, infrastructure, and other essential projects across the state. The Building an Affordable California Act promises faster approvals and limited judicial challenges, but faces organized opposition from labor unions and environmental groups. Will this measure succeed in streamlining development, or does it go too far in curtailing environmental protections?
United StatesEnvironment
Rutan & Tucker LLP
Rutan & Tucker LLP
Article

New EU PFHxA Limits Take Effect Amid Expanding PFAS Rules For Apparel And Textiles

Beginning October 10, 2026, the European Union will restrict certain concentrations of PFHxA and related substances in clothing and footwear, marking a significant expansion of PFAS regulations affecting the apparel and textile industry. Companies face a complex patchwork of requirements as France, Denmark, and multiple U.S. states implement their own PFAS restrictions with varying scopes, thresholds, and compliance approaches. Navigating these divergent regulations requires careful supply chain evaluation
European UnionEnvironment
Beveridge & Diamond, P.C.
Beveridge & Diamond, P.C.
Article

The Boss Is Watching. Now The Law Is Watching The Boss

California has established the first comprehensive regulations governing AI-powered employee monitoring, creating a new legal framework that extends from hiring through termination. As other states follow suit with their own monitoring restrictions, companies face a complex patchwork of requirements covering everything from bathroom surveillance to emotion detection, with significant enforcement mechanisms and liability risks attached to each jurisdiction's unique approach.
United StatesEmployment and HR
Dickinson Wright PLLC
Dickinson Wright PLLC
Article

The Hidden Immigration Risks Of Automatic Voter Registration

Foreign nationals visiting the DMV may unknowingly register to vote through automatic voter registration systems, creating serious immigration consequences years later during green card or citizenship applications. With expanded federal verification programs and stricter USCIS enforcement, employment-based immigrants and their families must understand how routine driver's license transactions can jeopardize their immigration status.
United StatesImmigration
Dickinson Wright PLLC
Dickinson Wright PLLC
Article

The FCC Reaches Deeper Into The Grid – And The Warehouse

The Federal Communications Commission has added foreign-produced power inverters and advanced robotic devices to its Covered List under national security determinations, immediately barring new equipment authorizations and creating compliance deadlines for manufacturers. Companies must now evaluate whether their products qualify as domestic end products under Federal Acquisition Regulation standards or pursue conditional approval pathways by January 1, 2028.
United StatesGovernment, Public Sector
Dickinson Wright PLLC
Dickinson Wright PLLC
Article

The State Of AI Regulation In Healthcare: Still Complicated

As artificial intelligence tools become embedded in clinical care, diagnostics, and health insurance operations, healthcare organizations must navigate an evolving patchwork of federal oversight and state-specific AI regulations. With 21 states having enacted 33 healthcare-AI laws by the end of 2025 and 177 pending bills across 31 states in 2026, the regulatory landscape remains fragmented while federal agencies work to establish comprehensive standards. Understanding these overlapping requirements is criti
United StatesFood, Drugs, Healthcare, Life Sciences
Dickinson Wright PLLC
Dickinson Wright PLLC
Article

The EPR Effect: Why Recycling Modernization Laws Are Setting The Stage For Exits And Acquisitions

M&A activity in the waste and recycling sector is accelerating in 2025, driven by strong buyer demand, Extended Producer Responsibility laws, and billions in producer-funded investments. With public companies deploying record capital and private equity actively pursuing acquisitions, industry leaders are positioning to capitalize on recycling modernization laws that are reshaping the competitive landscape.
United StatesCorporate/Commercial Law
Dickinson Wright PLLC
Dickinson Wright PLLC