PFAS

"Forever chemicals"

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a wide class of long-lasting manmade chemical compounds, "forever chemicals", that have been highlighted due to concerns for human health, agriculture production, and environmental health. While the public attention to PFAS is relatively new, the chemicals have been used globally since the 1940s. PFAS can be found in many everyday products like non-stick cookware, water-repellent clothing, firefighting foams, and food packaging. Industrial facilities, manufactured products, and biosolids application are main sources of PFAS to the environment. 

PFAS chemicals can be complex but are often characterized by having strongly bonded carbon (C) and fluorine (F) atoms in the 'tail' and water-liking functional groups in the 'head'. Functional groups are clusters of atoms within a molecule that can influence the properties of a chemical including its ability to dissolve in water or stick to fats or oils. The strong carbon-fluorine bonds that are hydrophobic (water-hating) and the hydrophilic (water-loving) functional groups on the compounds, mean PFAS can repel water, oil, stains, and remain stable even at extreme temperatures.

While knowledge of the full scope of the problem is still limited, a robust body of science-based information is available to provide guidance on policy and practice. Due to the likely potential long term impact on the environment and human health several practices and technologies to prevent, remediate and/or mitigate these compounds are in various stages of development or implementation. 

The US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) has information and guidance.