WEST PALM BEACH, Fla (CBS12) — A new Florida law aimed at reducing exposure to so-called “forever chemicals” is set to take effect July 1 — and it’s named in honor of a late Palm Beach County lawmaker.
The Joe Casello Act targets PFAS, a group of chemicals commonly found in certain firefighting foams and everyday consumer products. The new law restricts the use of PFAS-based firefighting foam for training and includes penalties for violations.
State Representative Rob Long (D-Delray Beach), who now holds the seat once held by Joe Casello, helped push the measure forward. Casello, a former firefighter, passed away last year.
“There’s such a massive stockpile of it it’s still being used in training and it’s been tied to all of these health issues with our firefighters,” Long said.
See also: Florida proposal could bar undocumented students from some state universities
Long says lawmakers rallied around the bill in honor of Casello.
“Every single member of the House actually ended up sponsoring this bill in honor of our fallen colleague, Joe Casello,” he said.
FILE – Vials containing samples of forever chemicals, known as PFAS, sit in a tray, April 10, 2024, at a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency lab in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Joshua A. Bickel, File)
Experts say PFAS aren’t just limited to firefighting foam. They’re also found in everyday products like cleaning supplies, cosmetics, and personal care items — and are increasingly being detected in drinking water.
“There’s a lot of uses of PFAS in your cleaning products your shampoos, your conditioners, your cosmetics,” said Anna Reade, a senior scientist with the Natural Resources Defense Council.
One major concern is how long these chemicals last.
“They don’t really degrade for hundreds of thousands of years,” Reade said.
Health experts say long-term exposure to PFAS has been linked to serious health issues.
“Long-term exposure can increase our risk of cancers, including testicular and kidney cancer but also increase our risk of various reproductive and developmental harms,” Reed said.
The issue is already affecting communities locally. The City of Stuart recently secured a multi-million-dollar settlement tied to PFAS contamination in its drinking water.
“Over 200 million Americans have PFAS in their drinking water and over 100 million are above safety standards,” Reed said.
Lawmakers say this latest legislation is just the beginning, with additional PFAS-related measures expected in future sessions.
The Joe Casello Act officially takes effect July 1, 2026.