As part of state regulations and general good manufacturing practices, many cannabis manufacturers test their products for contaminants such as mycotoxins, heavy metals and pesticides. But one group of substances have been flying under the radar, and they can cause some serious damage to consumers.
Synthetic compounds known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are found in public water supplies across the U.S. There are about 15,000 different chemical compounds that fall under the PFAS umbrella. [...]
Ethan Feldman, Associate, Duane Morris, says PFAS have been linked to various forms of cancer and birth defects. "They make their way into final products, which are eventually ingested, and the buildup of PFAS in a consumer's bloodstream can lead to cancer," he says. [...]
"That's really where there's a significant concern," explains Seth Goldberg, Partner and Cannabis Industry Group Co-Team Lead at Duane Morris. "PFAS that end up in consumer goods, such as cannabis, is a huge safety risk. And now we're seeing corresponding litigation risks with PFAS where they have been subject to a growing number of product liability and consumer class action matters."
To read the full text of this article, please visit the Cannabis Regulator website.
Disclaimer: This Alert has been prepared and published for informational purposes only and is not offered, nor should be construed, as legal advice. For more information, please see the firm's full disclaimer.
