"A number of U.S. paper mills are expected to discharge hundreds of pounds of a controversial chemical into rivers — a reality that the federal government is aware of and has signed off on, according to internal Federal Drug Administration (FDA) documents.
Chemical companies Daikin America and Chemours alerted the FDA in its environmental assessments from 2009 to 2010 that paper mills using their chemical known as perfluorinated alkyl substances (PFASs) would likely distribute hundreds of pounds of the chemical in wastewater discharge per day.
PFASs are common consumer chemicals typically used to coat nonstick objects such as frying pans. In this case, the chemicals were being used to grease nonstick pizza boxes and other food packaging products."
