Enforcement Of Regulations Research Articles

Charting a way forward for the use of data science in competition enforcement and platform regulation

ABSTRACT Competition authorities and other regulators already rely on data science to monitor markets and check compliance with applicable rules. The Digital Markets Act and the Digital Services Act have made the use of data science by regulators even more relevant, given the scale and complexity of the oversight required. The existing use of data science shows that regulators are able to adapt their organizations and processes to realize the potential of using technology tools in their activities. At the same time, the use of data science poses challenges in terms of data reliability and individual privacy. Beyond involvement in specific investigations, data science also has the potential to reform the work of regulators by moving towards a more proactive form of enforcement. The sharing of data science expertise and tools between regulators deserves to be further facilitated to increase collaboration and share resources in monitoring the platform economy.

Legal Study on the Oversight of Overloaded Motor Vehicles: Efforts to Protect Road Safety and Infrastructure

The oversight of motor vehicles exceeding weight limits is critical in safeguarding road safety and protecting infrastructure from premature damage. Overloaded vehicles are a common issue, contributing significantly to accidents and accelerated road deterioration, which incurs high repair costs and disrupts public transport and logistics. This study examines the legal frameworks and regulatory practices aimed at controlling vehicle overloading in Indonesia. Utilizing a normative juridical approach, the research reviews pertinent laws, regulations, and real-world cases involving load limit violations to gain insights into the effectiveness of existing policies. Findings reveal that while stringent load regulations are in place, enforcement remains inconsistent due to various limitations, including outdated monitoring technology, insufficient human resources, and challenges in coordinating between regulatory agencies. The research identifies critical obstacles in the current oversight mechanisms, such as a lack of real-time data collection and limited roadside weighing facilities, which hinder comprehensive monitoring. Furthermore, penalties for overloading are often inadequate to deter repeat violations. Based on these findings, this study recommends a multi-faceted approach to strengthen vehicle load regulation enforcement. Suggested improvements include upgrading monitoring technology, such as installing automatic weigh-in-motion systems, increasing the frequency and coverage of roadside inspections, and implementing more severe penalties to enhance deterrence. Additionally, the study emphasizes the need for inter-agency coordination and public awareness campaigns to foster compliance among vehicle operators. Through these initiatives, Indonesia can better protect its roadways, ensuring both road safety for all users and the long-term sustainability of its infrastructure.

On the Margins of the Mining Economy: Occupational Health and Safety in Artisanal Scale Gemstone Mining in the Mwatate-Voi Area, Taita Taveta County, Kenya

Artisanal gemstone mining in Kenya provides income and livelihoods to many locals in Taita Taveta County. However, little is known about the occupational safety and health issues encountered in this activity. This study investigated major occupational health and safety issues associated with artisanal gemstone mining using a variety of methods including key informant interviews, administration of questionnaires to mineworkers and direct observations at mining sites. Out of ninety-five (95) miners surveyed at ten (10) mining sites, sixty-eight (68) (71.6 %) had suffered injuries resulting in absence from work for days up to over a month. The major injury type was contusions (73.5 %). The main cause of injuries was tools/machinery handling (92.6 %). Only about twenty-seven (27) miners (28.4 %) used safety gear at work while twenty-nine (29) (30.5 %) had received any form of safety training. This study suggests that miners generally lack basic knowledge and education on the mitigation of occupational hazards associated with their work and basic tools/equipment for use in gemstone mining. Provision of education on and/or adequate enforcement of occupational health and safety regulations by relevant government agencies would improve the knowledge of miners on how to minimize occupational hazards

REGENERATIVE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT: A PRELIMINARY STUDY OF CIRCUMSTANCES IN PHUKET

The concept of sustainable tourism has long been a focal point in tourism literature. However, the increasing complexity of global challenges, such as climate change and over-tourism, suggests that sustainability alone may no longer be sufficient. This is where regenerative tourism emerges, shifting the focus from merely minimizing harm to actively restoring and enhancing ecosystems, communities, and economies through tourism activities. This preliminary research aims to investigate the current state of regenerative tourism development in the context of Phuket, Thailand. A qualitative research approach was employed, utilizing semi-structured in-depth interviews with six key informants, including local community members, public and business representatives in tourism organizations, and local government officials. The iterative analysis of the interviews revealed several critical themes: waste management issues, insufficient enforcement of laws and regulations, the need for improved stakeholder collaboration, and growing environmental concerns. Additionally, the study highlighted various regenerative tourism practices currently being implemented. This preliminary study reveals four critical challenges in Phuket's regenerative tourism development: systemic waste management failures, insufficient law enforcement and regulations, lack of stakeholder collaboration, and escalating environmental concerns. The findings indicate that transitioning to regenerative tourism requires enhanced infrastructure and waste management systems, strengthened regulatory frameworks and enforcement mechanisms, improved stakeholder engagement processes, and comprehensive environmental monitoring systems. This research supports the need for a balanced approach to tourism development that considers environmental and social impacts alongside economic benefits. The implications of this research are significant, emphasizing the need for increased awareness and the optimization of collaboration among relevant tourism stakeholders to foster regenerative tourism in Phuket.

Medical Board Discipline of Physicians for Spreading Medical Misinformation.

False medical information disseminated dangerously during the COVID-19 pandemic, with certain physicians playing a surprisingly prominent role. Medical boards engendered widespread criticism for not imposing forceful sanctions, but considerable uncertainty remains about how the professional licensure system regulates physician-spread misinformation. To compare the level of professional discipline of physicians for spreading medical misinformation relative to discipline for other offenses. This cross-sectional study analyzed and coded publicly reported medical board disciplinary actions in the 5 most populous US states. The analysis included data from January 1, 2020, through May 30, 2023, for California, Florida, New York, and Pennsylvania and from January 1, 2020, through March 30, 2022, for Texas. Medical board disciplinary proceedings that resulted in some form of sanction were analyzed. Codes were assigned for the different types of offenses relied on by medical boards for imposing physician discipline. Among 3128 medical board disciplinary proceedings in the 5 most populous states, spreading misinformation to the community was the least common reason for medical board discipline of physicians (6 [0.1%] of all identified offenses). Two reasons tied for third least common: patient-directed misinformation (21 [0.3%]) and inappropriate advertising or patient solicitation (21 [0.3%]). The frequency of misinformation conduct was exponentially lower than more common reasons for discipline, such as physician negligence (1911 [28.7%]), problematic record-keeping (990 [14.9%]), and inappropriate prescribing (901 [13.5%]). Patient-directed misinformation provided a basis for discipline 3 times as often as spreading misinformation to the community. The frequency of disciplinary actions for any reasons related to COVID-19 care, even if not about misinformation, was also quite low (10 [0.2%]). Sanctions in misinformation actions tended to be relatively light. The frequency of discipline for physician-spread misinformation observed in this cross-sectional study was quite low despite increased salience and medical board warnings since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic about the dangers of physicians spreading falsehoods. These findings suggest that there is a serious disconnect between regulatory guidance and enforcement and that medical boards relied on spreading misinformation to patients as a reason for discipline 3 times more frequently than disseminating falsehoods to the public. These results shed light on important policy concerns about professional licensure, including why, under current patient-centered frameworks, this form of regulation may be particularly ill-suited to address medical misinformation.

MICROPRUDENTIAL ASPECT BEYOND RULE OF THUMB IN RURAL BANK INDUSTRY IN INDONESIA

Objective: This research aims to examine the microprudential aspects beyond traditional rule of thumb measures in the regulation of Rural Banks in Indonesia, particularly focusing on the implications of recent regulatory changes that have prompted Rural Bank mergers. Theoretical Framework: This research utilizes a framework that incorporates financial ratios as critical indicators of bank performance and health. It considers the influence of regulatory frameworks—especially those outlined in POJK regulations—on the operational effectiveness and stability of Rural Banks. Related to the forced corporate action, reason that administrative reform may not have increased merger activity as expected is that larger, combined activities are likely to be more readily able to absorb the significant costs of complying with administrative reform than smaller Rural Bank. Method: This research methodology used is a qualitative descriptive method. In conducting this study, researchers used primary data and secondary data. Primary data obtained from the results practitioners' perspective of interviews (in-depth interviews) with experts and practitioners, who have an understanding of the issues discussed in Rural Bank Industry so that we can presumably determine the real current situation using a Qualitative Descriptive method with a Phenomenology study approach. While secondary data was complemented by data collected from literature studies, from the Financial Service Authority (OJK) official website, Several Rural Bank Performance Report and Financial Report during 2019 - 2023, scientific articles, books, information from the mass media and other relevant sources of information. Result and Discussion: This study highlights that reliance solely on the rule of thumb can be misleading in assessing bank health. It shows that a detailed analysis of various financial ratios—such as capital adequacy, asset quality, earnings, and liquidity—provides a more comprehensive understanding of a bank's performance and risks associated with mergers. The banking industry those had time to familiarize itself with the subject and to put legislation into concrete action. Other findings indicate that the enforcement of regulations aimed at increasing capital adequacy and reducing systemic risk has led to forced mergers among Rural Banks. Research Implication: The study underscores the importance of integrating microprudential regulations into the operational frameworks of Rural Banks. It suggests that regulators should prioritize comprehensive assessments based on financial ratios rather than simplistic heuristic methods, especially in the context of forced mergers driven by regulatory pressures. Effective and appropriate use of the merger strategies forced by regulator (OJK) have not facilitated Rural Banks’ efforts exactly to earn above-average returns. However, even when pursued for value-creating reason, merger strategies are not problem-free. Reason for the use of merger strategies and potential problem with such strategies are suboptimum goals congruence because of management control problem – include lack of direction, motivational problem, and personal limitation (Merchant et al, 2017). Recommendation: The research recommends that Rural Banks systematically evaluate their financial health using detailed financial ratios and adapt to the new regulatory landscape that encourages mergers. It also urges regulators to refine their guidelines to include these metrics as essential tools for ongoing performance assessment. Enhanced training for bank management on interpreting and applying these financial ratios can improve overall operational effectiveness, particularly in the context of mergers. Merger is not just about consolidating financial aspects, but also harmonizing the combination of tangible (Numbers on Balance Sheet) and intangible assets (Human capital aspect).

Learning or Leaking? Enforcement Spillover Effects Within and Beyond the Firm

We posit and find evidence consistent with a new mechanism of intra-firm enforcement spillovers: the leakage of scarce compliance resources across facilities within a firm. Using a facility-level panel data set of Clean Air Act (CAA) enforcement actions from 2005 to 2017, we find a facility is more likely to violate the CAA following penalties on its same-industry-same-state siblings. In contrast, there is no significant spillover across firms. We show that the intra-firm spillover is not due to changes in regulatory attention or production shifting. Instead, our results suggest it may result from the redeployment of scarce compliance resources across siblings. Consistent with this mechanism, we find compliance leakage only occurs at privately held firms and facilities that lack the resources to invest in pollution prevention. The findings contribute to understanding the efficacy of environmental enforcement and have important implications for intra-firm management of environmental performance and regulatory enforcement approaches.

Relationship between Exposure to Violent Content on the Media and Aggressive Behaviour among Adolescent Learners in Western Region, Kenya

This study explores the relationship between exposure to violent media content and aggressive behavior among adolescent secondary school students in Kakamega, Kisii, and Siaya Counties, Kenya. These counties have relatively high media technology access, particularly mobile phones and radio, which exceed national averages. They also report notable incidences of student aggression, with Siaya and Kisii counties showing high rates of student unrest. Grounded in Albert Bandura’s Social Learning Theory, the study utilized a mixed-method approach, adopting descriptive survey and correlational research designs. A sample of 417 students was drawn from a population of 190,555, selected using stratified random sampling method. Data collection involved questionnaires, content analysis, and the Adolescent Peer Relations Instrument (APRI). A pilot study conducted in Vihiga County confirmed the reliability of the instruments, with a Cronbach's Alpha coefficient of 0.87. The study revealed a significant correlation between aggression and exposure to violent content on television (r = 0.211, p = 0.000), with television identified as the most substantial contributor to aggression (B = 0.218, p = 0.001). Notably, 46% of adolescents in Kakamega, Kisii, and Siaya reported constant exposure to violent media, while 11% frequently imitated the violence observed, primarily on mobile phones. Additionally, 9% of respondents justified the violence they encountered, and 56.5% exhibited mild violent tendencies. The study recommends stricter enforcement of media violence regulations, including enhanced penalties and parental guidance ratings, alongside the introduction of media literacy programs in schools. Additionally, it calls for limiting unsupervised internet access for minors, particularly in public cybercafes, to mitigate the negative influence of violent media content.

Understanding Consumer Behavior in Kuching’s Black Market Gambling: The Psychological, Economic and Regulatory Impacts of Illicit Gambling Markets

This study investigates the social, psychological, economic, and regulatory elements that influence Kuching, Sarawak, residents' involvement in illegal gaming. Using a non-probability purposive sampling technique and a structured questionnaire, data were gathered from 366 respondents. To get a wide variety of respondents, the survey was administered online. Key findings show that social influence, financial difficulty, and psychological pressure all strongly influence gambling behavior, with accessibility to illicit internet gambling platforms appearing as a key contributing factor. The study also shows that the problem is made worse by lax regulatory enforcement, which lets players bet with little concern about potential legal consequences. Regression analysis shows that both psychological health and economic stability are significantly harmed by consumer involvement in black market gaming. To address the root reasons of gambling habits, the study suggests community-based initiatives, economic interventions, the creation of legal alternatives, and more stringent regulation and oversight of online gaming platforms

Resource Nexus for decision-making: an industry-community synergistic approach for textile wastewater management

ABSTRACT Although the textile industry is crucial to economic development, it is a significant polluter of global water sources through its wastewater discharge, which endangers aquatic ecosystems and neighboring communities. This study focuses on stakeholder perceptions from farming and fishing communities related to wastewater management in the Bangladesh textile industry. Using focus group discussions with stakeholders that focused on sustainability values and a Resource Nexus framing, the results emphasise the adverse effects of textile wastewater on neighbouring communities, spanning agriculture, livestock, and ecological resources. The findings also underscore a significant need for collaboration between the textile industry and neighbouring communities, emphasising the ongoing obligation of governance resources, such as monitoring, regulations, and proactive measures and advocates for engaging different stakeholders in the formulation of robust policies, stringent regulations, and concerted efforts across industry, government, and communities to deliver improved governmental monitoring, enforcement of regulations and transparency in wastewater management practices in the textile industry of Bangladesh. The study suggests that a Water-Energy-Ecosystems-Food (WEEF) Resource Nexus approach can enhance decision-making, promoting sustainable energy infrastructure, encourage increased treated wastewater reuse, and facilitate effective management for environmental resilience and socio-ecological systems sustainability. This study contributes valuable insights elicited from a WEEF Resource Nexus approach, offering guidance for policymakers, industry practitioners, and researchers in the textile industry and beyond, aiding in the understanding of resilient industry-community ecosystems.

Local protectionism and national oversight: political connection and the enforcement of environmental regulation in China

Local protectionism and national oversight: political connection and the enforcement of environmental regulation in China

Semantic segmentation of optical satellite images for the illegal construction detection using transfer learning

As urban populations grow, the demand for new infrastructure intensifies. However, some builders often neglect to obtain necessary permits, resulting in unstable structures that endanger public safety and disrupt city planning. Illegal construction poses significant challenges to economic development and social harmony. To tackle this issue, there is an urgent need for an automated illegal building monitoring system that can accurately identify and notify authorities about unlawful constructions. Current methods are often inefficient due to limited data access, inadequate analysis, and lack of automation.Recent technological advancements suggest that using satellite imagery alongside semantic segmentation is a highly effective approach for detecting illegal buildings. This process not only ensures the safety and compliance of structures but also enhances overall regulatory enforcement. This research distinguishes itself from previous studies by primarily focusing on illegal construction. It employs a diverse range of machine learning models, including the U-Shaped Network and Visual Geometry Group, and incorporates customized evaluation metrics that are not typically found in earlier research. Additionally, it utilizes real-world data, enhancing its practical relevance, and features IoT integration for real-time monitoring capabilities.We chose U-Net as our architecture due to its symmetrical design, which facilitates effective feature extraction. Its skip connections play a crucial role in preserving important features during the segmentation process. U-Net is known for its high accuracy and adaptability across various domains, making it versatile for our needs. Additionally, it performs well even with limited data, demonstrating robustness in diverse conditions. Furthermore, its compatibility with transfer learning enhances its applicability. For all these reasons, U-Net was selected as our model.Our experiments revealed that the Unet_mini model outperformed all others, demonstrating its effectiveness in addressing illegal construction challenges in urban areas. Qualitative results further illustrate the model's robustness, showing a significant reduction in false positives and improved accuracy in identifying illegal structures. This comprehensive approach not only improves detection rates but also contributes to more efficient regulatory enforcement, thereby promoting safer urban environments.This research distinguishes itself from previous studies by primarily focusing on illegal construction detection rather than general segmentation tasks. It employs a diverse range of machine learning models, including the U-Shaped Network and Visual Geometry Group, and integrates customized evaluation metrics that are not typically found in earlier research. Furthermore, it utilizes real-world data, enhancing its practical relevance, and incorporates IoT integration for real-time monitoring capabilities, setting it apart from existing studies.

Evaluating the challenges to circular economy implementation in the apparel accessories industry: Implications for sustainable development

The recent global shift toward sustainability has compelled businesses, particularly in emerging economies like Bangladesh, to adopt circular economy practices. The apparel accessories sector, which plays a crucial role in Bangladesh’s economy, faces significant environmental challenges, including inefficient resource consumption and waste generation. However, there is not much research on addressing the barriers that are hindering this industry’s adoption of circular economy practices. This study aims to fill this gap by identifying and analyzing key challenges using an integrated Fuzzy Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory framework. This approach offers a novel methodological contribution by effectively handling complex interrelationships among the barriers and addressing the uncertainties related to decision-making. Data were gathered through a comprehensive literature review and relevant expert feedback, ensuring a robust analysis of the most pressing challenges. Thirteen critical challenges were finally identified and analyzed using the proposed evaluation framework. After evaluation, ‘inadequate leadership and top management commitment’, ‘lack of expertise and resources’, and ‘insufficient enforcement of environmental regulations’ emerged as the most significant barriers. The analysis further uncovered complex interrelationships between these challenges, revealing how they reinforce one another and hinder circular economy adoption. The findings offer broader implications for emerging economies by providing valuable insights for policymakers and industry leaders, emphasizing the need for targeted strategies to address the significant barriers. This way, this study is expected to facilitate the industry’s transition to a circular economy, reduce environmental impact, and promote sustainable growth.

The Failure to Regulate Airbnb

Headlines this year announced "The End of Airbnb in New York City." The flurry of news articles came in response to New York City’s decision to tighten its enforcement of short-term rental regulations in the context of the affordable housing crisis. Official New York City estimates suggested there were up to 10,800 illegal listings on the Airbnb platform, while other independent watchers put this number closer to 35,000. Although removing tens of thousands of short-term rentals from the market in one fell swoop may seem extreme, the frustration motivating this decision had been building among city officials for years—in New York City and beyond.

Achieving Air Pollution Control Targets with Technology‑Aided Monitoring: Better Enforcement or Localized Efforts?

Weak enforcement of environmental regulations remains a global issue due to inadequate monitoring and misaligned incentives. This paper examines the effects of automated monitoring on achieving air pollution control targets amidst China’s war on pollution. Utilizing the staggered rollout process and remote-sensing data, we find local governments respond to the advanced monitoring system by strategically targeting areas near monitors, resulting in a 3.2 percent decrease in pollution adjacent to automated monitors compared to areas farther away. Furthermore, we observe heterogeneity in response across cities with varying degrees of preexisting data manipulation and among officials facing different incentives and public pressure. (JEL O13, O18, P25, P28, Q53, Q55, R11)

Economic growth and environmental sustainability: The role of foreign direct investment and technological innovation on carbon emissions in Ghana

Debates on foreign direct investment, technological innovation and carbon emission seem unsettling in the literature. We contribute to the literature by investigating the relationships between foreign direct investment, technological innovation, and carbon emissions in Ghana. Using the Autoregressive Distributive Lag (ARDL) method, the analysis reveals that foreign direct investment contributes to reduced emissions in the short run but significantly increases carbon emissions in the long run, aligning with the pollution haven hypothesis. This indicates that Ghana may have a robust environmental regulation that ensures eco-friendly foreign direct investments in the short run, with weak enforcement of regulations resulting in high emissions in the long term. Technological innovation in the Ghanaian context contributes to increased CO2 emissions. However, the interaction effect of foreign direct investments and technological innovation reduces carbon emissions, emphasizing the importance of aligning foreign investments with sustainable technological advancements in Ghana. The study also identifies the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) effect, where emissions rise with economic growth but decelerate at higher GDP levels. The findings underscore the need for stronger environmental regulations and a shift towards sustainable, cleaner energy and technological development to mitigate the environmental impacts of economic growth in Ghana and similar developing countries.

Foreign Arbitration As The Only Recourse In Resolving Trademark Disputes In A Civil Manner, Criticism of Act Number 20 Year 2016 About Brands and Geographical Indications

Introduction: Act Number 20 year 2016 on trademark and geographic indication opens up opportunities to resolve trademark disputes not only through the Commercial Court, but also to resolve disputes through the District Court.Purposes of the Research: The purpose of the study was to find a form of fair trademark dispute resolution. Conventionally, dispute resolution is usually done by litigation or dispute resolution before the court.Methods of the Research: Normative research is used to answer the formulation of problems regarding foreign arbitration as the only way to resolve trademark rights disputes in a civil manner. The method of approach is the approach of legislation that is to examine and analyze the regulation.Results of the Research: Indonesia also has repeatedly updated the regulation on trademark, but on the other hand, the level of trademark infringement is increasing, even the Commercial Court which should be a place for people to seek justice often gives decisions that do not reflect justice. Is it not better to start looking for other alternatives to resolve trademark disputes that can provide a sense of justice to the community. The court, which is only a mouthpiece of the acts, without regard to the conventions in the field of trademark that have actually been ratified by Indonesia, making the enforcement of trademark regulations in Indonesia, has not been able to provide a sense of justice to holders of rights to trademarks, especially holders of rights to well-known trademars. So that the settlement of famous brand disputes through foreign arbitration is expected to provide a sense of justice for the rights holders of the wellknown trademark.

Analysis of Mangrove Forest Management in Teluk Lembar, West Lombok, Indonesia

Mangrove forests in Teluk Lembar, West Lombok, have an important role in ecological balance and socio-economic benefits. However, these ecosystems face pressure from land conversion for ponds, illegal logging, and pollution. This study aims to describe the condition of mangroves, analyze the socio-economic aspects of the community and the role of stakeholders, assess the value of direct benefits of mangroves, and formulate sustainable management strategies. The results showed significant biodiversity, with 14 species of mangroves and 53 species of fauna, including 44 species of birds. The bird ecological index showed diversity (H') 32, uniformity (E) 0.8, and dominance (D) 0.7, which signified ecosystem stability. However, a serious threat comes from the conversion of land for ponds, houses, factories, and ports. Of the 1703.19 ha of the total area area, only 179.44 ha (10.54%) of mangrove forests remain. Waste pollution, such as mercury and copper levels that exceed the limit, also negatively impacts the ecosystem. Based on the SWOT analysis, the proposed mangrove management strategy includes: (a) strengthening community capacity in mangrove management through training and education, (b) increasing collaboration between stakeholders to strengthen regulation and law enforcement, (c) optimizing economic benefits through the development of mangrove-based ecotourism, and (d) implementing sustainable management practices to maintain a balance between conservation and utilization

The Interconnectedness of Earnings Management, Corporate Governance Failures, and Global Economic Stability: A Critical Examination of the Impact of Earnings Manipulation on Financial Crises and Investor Trust in Global Markets

This study critically examines the interconnectedness of earnings management, corporate governance failures, and their impact on global economic stability and investor trust. Focusing on the Enron (1993–1995) and Wirecard (2015–2019) scandals, the research identifies key financial and governance indicators that contributed to these collapses, including CEO duality, weak board oversight, and manipulated financial reporting. Data for the analysis were drawn from corporate financial reports, macroeconomic indicators sourced from the World Bank, and stock market data from MarketWatch. Financial ratio assessments and regression models reveal a statistically significant negative relationship between GDP growth and abnormal returns for Enron (p = 0.014), while inflation had a strong positive impact on abnormal returns in both cases (p < 0.001). Time series analysis was applied to assess the macroeconomic consequences of corporate collapses on global financial markets. The findings demonstrate how declining GDP growth and rising inflation amplify market responses to governance failures. Recommendations include enhancing corporate governance frameworks, intensifying regulatory enforcement, and fostering global regulatory cooperation to safeguard financial markets and restore investor trust.

The trends of per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (pfas) in drinking water systems in Maryland United States

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have become a major concern in water quality management because of their persistence in the environment and associated health risks. In Maryland, the diverse water resources and densely populated areas, faces unique challenges culminating from PFAS contamination. This research paper presents a comprehensive overview of PFAS contamination trends in Maryland's drinking water systems across four distinct phases, spanning from 2019 to 2022, it highlights the trends of PFAS contamination, environmental and public health risks, and strategies for effective management. Utilizing data from extensive monitoring efforts conducted in the state, the study reveals a persistent and evolving environmental health challenge characterized by the dominance of different PFAS compounds, particularly PFOS and PFOA, found at concerning concentrations. Mean concentrations of total PFOA/PFOS across the sampling periods were at 18.78 ng/L, 7.28 ng/L, 14.60 ng/L, 12.46 ng/L, significantly surpassing the EPA's 2024 maximum contaminant levels of 4 ng/L for PFOA and PFOS. Despite fluctuations observed across sampling phases, PFAS levels consistently surpass EPA health advisory levels, indicating widespread contamination. Potential sources, such as industrial sites and wastewater treatment plants, underscore the need for robust regulatory enforcement and innovative remediation strategies to safeguard public health. The findings emphasize the necessity for continuous monitoring and multi-faceted mitigation approaches to address PFAS contamination effectively, ensuring the safety of Maryland's water resources and the health of its residents.