Nonprofit organizations sue Inhance Technologies for violating EPA Regulations

Two nonprofit organizations, the Center for Environmental Health (CEH) and Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER), have filed a lawsuit against Inhance Technologies in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia for violating U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations.

The lawsuit states that Inhance Technologies, located in Houston, Texas, is generating toxic PFAS or “forever chemicals” during the fluorination process of plastic containers. Testing conducted by the EPA and other organizations has found PFAS chemicals on the surface and contents of these containers, likely formed as a result of chemical reactions during the fluorination process.

The PFAS detected in the containers include perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a harmful substance linked to several negative health effects including liver and pancreatic cancer, reduced immune function, and impaired fetal development. The EPA has concluded that even low levels of PFOA are harmful to health.

In 2020, the EPA issued regulations under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) preventing companies from producing PFOA and other PFAS until the EPA approved. According to the lawsuit, Inhance failed to submit the necessary notice to the EPA and has been producing PFAS in violation of TSCA.

CEH and PEER are seeking a court order restraining Inhance from continued manufacture of PFAS, stopping all distribution of fluorinated containers, and informing purchasers and users of these containers of the dangers of exposure to PFOA and other PFAS. The EPA filed its own lawsuit against Inhance under TSCA on December 19, 2022.

CEH is a national non-profit organization based in Oakland, California, that aims to protect families from harmful chemicals in everyday products. PEER is a national non-profit organization based in Silver Spring, Maryland, that works with professionals dedicated to upholding environmental laws.

“These PFAS-laden containers present an ongoing danger to workers, consumers, and the environment," says Sarah Packer, Director of CEH's Petrochemicals, Plastics & Climate program.