7:00 pm (ET) Saturday, October 17, 2026, Live and via Zoom
PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a large group of man-made synthetic chemicals known as “forever chemicals” because they do not break down easily in the environment or the human body. They can resist water, heat, and grease. PFAS were invented in the 1950s, and since then have been used for a wide range of applications. They show up as a non-stick coating for cooking pans, textiles, paper products, and fire-fighting foams, to name but a few. They fulfill the needs of industries ranging from aerospace to semiconductors to automotive. PFAS have been found in our water, our food, our clothes, our homes, and in the blood of nearly every human on the planet. Come and hear the full story from attorney Tony Spaniola, a leading national PFAS expert and community advocate.
Tony Spaniola became active in PFAS issues in 2016, when he learned that his property was contaminated by PFAS from the former Wurtsmith Air Force Base, the first PFAS site in Michigan and the first U.S. military PFAS site in the world. Since then, Tony has worked to catalyze action on the local, state, and federal levels to address these harmful “forever chemicals.”He’s played a critical role in the adoption of numerous key PFAS policies, including the first-ever national PFAS drinking water standards in 2024. He co-founded and co-chairs the Great Lakes PFAS Action Network; and he serves on the Leadership Team of the National PFAS Contamination Coalition. He has presented at the White House Water Summit; the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine; and in testimony before the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. He has been featured in various media outlets, including ABC News, PBS News, CNBC and USA Today – and in the critically acclaimed PFAS film documentary, “No Defence: The U.S. Military’s War On Water.”
Tony is a graduate of Harvard University and the University of Michigan Law School. He is a member of the American and Michigan Bar Associations and also served as a Special Assistant to the Attorney General of the State of Michigan.
Virtual Presentation (Zoom)
The Zoom room opens at 6:30 P.M. (ET) for mingling.
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