They’re virtually everywhere and last forever. No, I’m not talking about Disney+ commercials, but rather, PFAs.
And there’s an emerging company expanding to Longmont to snuff them out.
Biota Inc. has opened a new 7,500-square-foot laboratory and innovation facility in Longmont, according to a news release. Biota is an environmental diagnostics company focused on revolutionizing PFA testing methods in both laboratory and field settings.
What are PFAs?
PFA is an acronym not worth remembering but stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances.
They’re also known as “forever chemicals” since they can take hundreds or thousands of years to break down.
They can be found in drinking water, soil, food, shampoo, carpets, pizza boxes — you get the idea.
Studies show PFA exposure has links to increased risks for a variety of cancers, reproductive effects, weakened immune systems and more.
As federal and state laws increasingly crack down on PFA contamination, demand for accurate and streamlined testing for such chemicals is higher than ever. Companies need to know where PFAs are present and when to take action. That’s where Biota steps in.
New digs
Biota originally took up residence in temporary University of Colorado lab space. But Biota’s new facility in Longmont will help it boost what was already a revolutionary model. Biota is making their mark by…
Overhauling traditional testing methods, which often lasted several weeks.
Employing rapid field & lab testing technology which can deliver PFA-detection results in minutes.
Boosting PFA-testing capacity.
Looking ahead:
The Biden and Trump administrations didn’t align on much but PFA-weariness was a common thread. Public and private entities will need to embrace detection technology to stay in the government’s good grace.