HARRISBURG, PA — A bipartisan push in the Pennsylvania House is targeting so-called “forever chemicals” embedded in everyday products, with sponsors warning that routine exposure poses long-term health risks that most consumers never see coming.
State Rep. Greg Scott, a Democrat from Montgomery County, introduced legislation this week that would ban PFAS—per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances—from cosmetics, dental floss, children’s products, and menstrual pads and tampons. The bill focuses on items with repeated, direct contact with skin or the body.
PFAS are synthetic chemicals that persist in the environment and the human body and have been linked to cancer, immune system suppression, pregnancy-related hypertension, and reduced fertility. They are widely used by manufacturers to repel water, oil, and stains.
Scott said public awareness of PFAS has largely centered on contaminated drinking water near airports and military bases, where firefighting foams have leached into groundwater. But he said the chemicals are far more pervasive.
“These products are used on the face, in the mouth, or by babies and toddlers exploring the world,” Scott said. “Every time a person uses one of these products, they’re exposed. Over a lifetime, that adds up.”
The proposal has drawn bipartisan backing, including support from Republican Rep. Natalie Mihalek of Allegheny and Washington counties, who said consumers have little ability to avoid PFAS on their own.
“Forever chemicals got their name for a reason,” Mihalek said, arguing that Pennsylvanians need concrete action rather than continued warnings as concerns grow about chemicals in food, pesticides, and household goods.
Beyond personal exposure, lawmakers also flagged environmental consequences. PFAS-laden products discarded in landfills can break down over time and contaminate groundwater, potentially threatening nearby drinking water supplies.
House Bill 2145 would prohibit the use of PFAS in the manufacture of the targeted products while giving manufacturers a transition period to comply. Supporters say the measure balances public health concerns with practical timelines for industry.
The bill now heads to the legislative process, where it will test how quickly Pennsylvania is willing to act as scrutiny of “forever chemicals” intensifies nationwide.
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