紐時賞析／曾為產業奇蹟！暴露於「永久化學物質」有罹癌風險 訴訟將如洪水襲來
「永久化學物質」相關訴訟已開始針對化工企業杜邦、科慕和3M等化學公司。專家表示，將出現的這類訴訟可能成爲美國最龐大的企業責任論戰之一。圖爲美國北卡州費耶特維爾的科慕化工廠。（紐約時報）
Flood of ‘Forever Chemicals’ Lawsuits Expected
「永久化學物質」訴訟將如洪水襲來
The defense lawyer minced no words as he addressed a room full of plastic-industry executives. Prepare for a wave of lawsuits with potentially “astronomical” costs. Speaking at a conference this year, the lawyer, Brian Gross, said the coming litigation could “dwarf anything related to asbestos,” one of the most sprawling corporate-liability battles in U.S. history.
辯護律師在擠滿塑膠產業高管的房間裡發表談話時，態度直言不諱。內容是爲一波可能產生「天文數字」金額的訴訟做好準備。律師格羅斯在今年的一場討論會表示，即將來臨的訴訟「會使與石棉相關的任何事相形見絀」，這是美國史上最龐大的企業責任論戰之一。
Gross was referring to PFAS, the “forever chemicals” that have emerged as one of the major pollution issues of our time. Used for decades in countless everyday objects — cosmetics, takeout containers, frying pans — PFAS have been linked to serious health risks including cancer. Last month the federal government said several types of PFAS must be removed from the drinking water of hundreds of millions of Americans.
格羅斯當時所提的是「全氟及多氟烷基物質（PFAS）」，這種「永久化學物質」已成我們時代主要污染議題之一。PFAS數十年來用於無數日常用品，包括化妝品、外帶容器、平底鍋，被認爲和癌症等嚴重健康風險有關。美國聯邦政府上月表示，必須從全美數億人口飲用水中，去除多種PFAS。
The chemicals, plastics and related industries are gearing up to fight a surge in litigation related to PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, a class of nearly 15,000 versatile synthetic chemicals.
化工、塑膠和相關產業，正準備和PFAS相關訴訟激增搏鬥。PFAS是近1萬5000種多用途合成化學物質所屬的類別。
PFAS chemicals have been detected almost everywhere scientists have looked: in drinking water, in rain falling over the Great Lakes, even in Antarctic snow. They are thought to be present in the blood of nearly every American. Researchers have linked exposure to PFAS to testicular and kidney cancers, developmental delays in children, decreased fertility, liver damage and thyroid disease. The human-made chemicals are so long-lasting that scientists haven’t been able to reliably identify how long it might take for them to break down.
科學家檢視的幾乎所有地方都能偵測到PFAS：飲用水、美國五大湖的降雨，甚至南極的降雪。它們被認爲存在於幾乎每一個美國人的血液中。研究人員認爲，暴露於PFAS，和罹患睾丸癌、腎臟癌、孩童發展遲緩、生育能力下降、肝損傷和甲狀腺疾病有關。這種人造化學物質非常持久，以致科學家一直無法確認它們要多久纔會分解。
The Biden administration has moved to regulate the chemicals, for the first time requiring municipal water systems to remove six types of PFAS. Last month, the Environmental Protection Agency also designated two of those PFAS chemicals as hazardous substances under the Superfund law, shifting responsibility for their cleanup at contaminated sites from taxpayers to polluters.
拜登政府已採取行動監管這些化學物質，首次要求市立供水系統去除六種PFAS。上月，美國環境保護署也依「超級基金法」，將其中兩種PFAS指定爲有害物質，將污染場址的清理責任從納稅人轉移到污染製造者。
Both rules are expected to prompt litigation from water utilities, local communities and others suing for cleanup costs.
這兩項法規，預期會引發水利公司、當地社區和其他人針對清理費用提起訴訟。
PFAS were an industrial marvel when chemists at Dupont in the 1940s synthesized the material, a remarkably durable compound resistant to water, stains, heat and grease. It quickly became a mainstay in DuPont’s Teflon nonstick pans and 3M’s Scotchgard fabric protector. A powerful fire suppressant, it helped firefighters battle flames. Today, they are used for everyday items as varied as microwave popcorn bags, shampoos, raincoats and firefighting foam.
美國化工企業「杜邦」化學家在1940年代合成PFAS時，它被稱爲產業奇蹟。這是種非常耐用的化合物，具有防水、抗污、耐熱和抗油特性。它迅速成爲杜邦的鐵氟龍不沾鍋和3M思高潔布料防污劑的支柱。它也是一種強大的滅火劑，協助消防員撲滅火勢。如今，它們被用於各種日常用品，如微波爆米花包裝袋、洗髮精、雨衣和消防泡沫。
文／Hiroko Tabuchi 譯／羅方妤