Forever Chemicals
PFAS: PerFluoroAlkyl and PolyFluoroAlkyl Substances
PFAS is a supergrouping of thousands of substances known as Forever Chemicals because they are characterized by fluorine-carbon bonds that are extremely stable and are not broken down by natural means. They build up in your body and the environment as time goes on; it doesn't appear that they ever go away.
Where They're Used
You may already be aware that they are used as cookware coatings and fire fighting foams. But what many don't realize is that because of how effective they are at repelling fluids and creating a smooth surface, they are also used extensively for:
- Cosmetics.
- Food takeout containers.
- Food wrappers.
- Pizza boxes.
- French fry containers.
- Microwave popcorn bags.
- Some 'environmentally-friendly compostable bowls'.
- Dental floss—some tests have shown certain brands to contain as much as 25 percent PFAS!
- Parchment Baking Paper.
- Fabric and leather coatings (such as Scotchguard).
- Household cleaning products.
- Stain-resistant carpeting.
Because of their ubiquity in consumer products, and discharge into the environment by many industrial and municipal sites, they're also known as Everywhere Chemicals.
Click on the image to the left to view an interactive map of known PFAS contamination sites across the United States.
See also: