The term "forever chemicals" is as ominous as it sounds: the nickname for a diverse group of consumer and industrial chemicals known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances [PFAS], these artificial substances lurk in the human bloodstream for decades, and are so unavoidable in modern industrial civilizations that they usually surface in the body in utero. The "forever" appellation is a reference to their resistance to breaking down: PFAS very rarely biodegrade, meaning almost all of the PFAS that have ever been produced still exist.
There are more than 4,700 PFAS in existence — Teflon, the substance used in non-stick pans, is perhaps the best-known of the bunch — and they can be found in a wide range of products: Non-stick cookware, receipt paper, food packaging, stain-resistant coating on fabrics like carpets, water-resistant fabrics like umbrellas, dental floss, cleaning products and even water bottles. Because PFAS are so widely used, it is currently impossible for humans to avoid contact with them. They are notorious for being impossible to get rid of, and are linked to health conditions from hypertension and liver disease to lowered sperm count. Despite these red flags studies repeatedly show that PFAS continue to contaminate public and private water supplies.
