In two recent Leader’s Edge articles, George H. Buermann, vice chair of Goldberg Segalla’s Environmental Law practice, shared insights on the evolving legal and insurance challenges surrounding PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), or “forever chemicals.” The articles examine both the growing volume of PFAS-related claims and the significant obstacles plaintiffs face in proving that chemical exposures caused specific illnesses.

In the article, “The Causation Gap,” Buermann explained that one of the biggest hurdles in PFAS litigation is the wide variation in exposure levels among individuals. He noted that everyday consumer exposure to PFAS-containing products is fundamentally different from the concentrated occupational exposures experienced by chemical plant workers and firefighters. According to Buermann, “Such health conditions are common and have many alternative causes, allowing corporate defendants to easily argue that a plaintiff’s illness had nothing to do with PFAS.”

In a second Leader’s Edge article entitled “Worse Than Asbestos?” explores the potentially enormous financial consequences of PFAS litigation for corporations and insurers. The article highlights the billions of dollars already paid in settlements and the growing number of contamination and personal injury claims nationwide. As courts continue evaluating scientific evidence linking PFAS exposure to specific diseases, Buermann noted “to eliminate this wiggle room, states like Minnesota are passing strict chemical reporting laws. These mandates require companies to conduct forensic supply-chain audits, update safety data sheets, and secure verified laboratory data proving their finished items are free of all trace PFAS.”

READ THE FULL ARTICLES HERE: “The Causation Gap” & “Worse Than Asbestos?” Leader’s Edge, September 29, 2026

MORE ABOUT GOLDBERG SEGALLA’S George H. Buermann:

George H. Buermann, vice chair of Goldberg Segalla’s Environmental Law practice, advises clients on complex environmental regulatory and compliance matters and litigates environmental and toxic tort disputes across the country. George offers clients in-depth knowledge of the state and federal regulations governing such disputes, including the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, and others.