PFAS
Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances
Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large group of manmade chemicals that do not occur naturally in the environment. PFAS have also been called “forever chemicals” because of the chemicals’ staying power in the environment and in our bodies – meaning they don’t break down and they can accumulate over time.
PFAS have been manufactured and used in a wide variety of applications around the world, both industrial and residential, since the 1940s. These chemicals are widely used because they are resistant to heat, water, and oil. PFAS are commonly found in every American household and in products such as non-stick cookware, furniture, clothing, cosmetics, lubricants, paint, carpets, pizza boxes, popcorn bags, and many others.
PFOA and PFOS are two types of PFAS that are no longer manufactured in the United States. However, they are still produced internationally and may be imported in consumer goods such as carpet, leather, clothing, textiles, packaging, coatings, rubber, and plastics. While consumer products have been a large source of exposure to these chemicals for most people, drinking water has become an increasing concern due to the persistence of PFAS chemicals in the environment and their tendency to accumulate in groundwater. Groundwater contamination typically has been associated with industrial facilities where these chemicals were manufactured or used such as airfields where the chemicals were required to be used in firefighting foam by the federal government or in areas near landfills that accept items containing PFAS.