PFAS Consulting Services

Thought leadership

Facing Liability for PFAS Contamination?

Chemicals

Consumer Products

Life Sciences & Healthcare

Polymer Science and Materials Chemistry

Environmental and Earth Sciences

Do your products or supply chains contain PFAS? How do you know?

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), so-called "forever chemicals," can be present either intentionally or unintentionally throughout your product supply chain. As public scrutiny and government oversight of PFAS — including PFOA, PFOS, PFNA, PFHxS, PFBS, GenX, and other fluorinated chemistries — continue to grow, it's critical to develop a thorough understanding of the chemical compounds used throughout your product supply chain.

Factory Auditing & Assembly Line Evaluations [ME]

How can Exponent help you identify PFAS in your products and supply chains to support informed product stewardship decisions?

We support global brands of manufactured consumer products with multidisciplinary engineering and scientific expertise to help them identify PFAS in their products and supply chains and take appropriate action. Our teams of highly skilled chemists, chemical engineers, materials scientists, data scientists, toxicologists, biologists, and environmental scientists create bespoke testing plans, perform unparalleled chemical analyses validation, and provide in-depth data interpretation to help address complex issues throughout the manufacturing product lifecycle, including material and product qualification, product stewardship, end-of-life issues, and environmental and human health risks.

Capabilities

Exponent's integrated teams of multidisciplinary experts provide unparalleled scientific analysis and data interpretation to empower the swift, proactive responses required when facing potential compliance or litigation issues concerning PFAS and supply chain management.

Why is it important to identify and quantify PFAS in your supply chain?
Although many per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) were banned under the PFOA Stewardship Program, many imported materials and products still contain PFAS. Because of their persistence and pervasiveness, they can unintentionally enter products and supply chains.
Addressing PFAS in your products begins with an accurate chemical analysis of your manufacturing supply chain, followed by in-depth chemical data analysis. Trusted global manufacturers rely on Exponent's multidisciplinary consulting teams to evaluate supply chains, including vendor partners, using rigorous scientific methodologies and data analysis.
How can accurate testing criteria and project scoping improve PFAS investigations throughout the product lifecycle?
Our teams have unparalleled expertise in identifying what needs to be measured and overseeing the accurate construction of testing variables, including validating previous testing methods and providing accurate chemical analysis and chemical data interpretation. We have decades of experience constructing tests and interpreting data based on what matters most so you can make decisions about addressing PFAS in your products with confidence.
How does Exponent's multidisciplinary expertise help manufacturers identify and analyzePFAS in your supply chain?
Our integrated teams include chemists, chemical engineers, toxicologists, materials and corrosion engineers, polymer and materials scientists, data scientists, and health and environmental scientists, as well as manufacturing and process engineers with the expertise and experience you need to evaluate your product stewardship throughout the entire product lifecycle and move forward based on sound interpretation of your data.
Why are PFAS referred to as "forever chemicals," and how do they affect the environment?
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) represent an extremely diverse set of chemicals used in a variety of industrial and commercial applications and to enhance the durability and performance of many manufactured consumer products, including paints, textiles, adhesives, sealers, foams, medical devices, lubricants, upholsteries, and carpets.
PFAS exhibit a variety of physical and chemical properties. Some key characteristics of some PFAS are their resistance to water, lipids, oils, flames, and high heat, making them well-suited to many industrial applications. However, these same properties can become problematic when PFAS enter the natural environment because of their resilience.
When certain PFAS are introduced into environmental systems such as water and soil, they remain in the natural environment for long periods — leading to the nickname "forever chemicals" — with the potential to enter drinking water, plants, and other organisms.
How can manufacturers mitigate the environmental impact of PFAS associated with their processes and facilities?
Increased public scrutiny and government oversight require consumer product manufacturers to evaluate PFAS in their supply chain and make swift decisions regarding the environmental impact of PFAS.
Our biologists, ecologists, and environmental scientists address issues of environmental permitting, environmental risk assessments, and environmental modeling and analysis, and we perform natural resource damage assessments. Exponent's multidisciplinary team of environmental and earth scientists supports clients across all aspects of sustainability and climate change, water management, environmental regulatory compliance, environmental assessment and remediation, and industrial contamination management.
Our consultants provide testing, analysis, and support for issues related to PFAS found in drinking water and wastewater and assist clients with site remediation, evaluation of biosolids, chemical fate and transport analysis, and toxicity evaluations.
As public scrutiny of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) increases, so do PFAS regulation and PFAS litigation. Exponent's 50+ years of supporting clients with technical expertise and scientific research across numerous industries and applications enable us to provide sound feedback, critical analysis, and important insights to support you through all stages of evolving regulatory and legal frameworks.

Our Capabilities Are Unparalleled

Exponent consultants work in multidisciplinary teams to provide customized analysis and interpretation of PFAS chemicals throughout your entire product lifecycle.