Perfluoroalkyl substances

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) is a class of roughly 4,700 synthetic chemicals, which have been in production and commercial use since WWII and found in products such as Teflon, Scotchguard, and firefighting foam. These chemicals make everyday objects resistant to heat, moisture and stains.and are typically used to repel oil and liquids, create waterproofness, create non-stick coatings and improve consistency and shine in cosmetics. Versions of PFAS are found in stain-resistant carpets, furniture, ski wax, rainproof coats, sporting gear and non-stick cookware.  High levels of PFAS are also found in food packaging like pizza boxes, microwave popcorn bags and fast-food wrappers in order to keep food from sticking.

Otherwise known as "forever chemicals", they persist in the environment for decades (if not centuries), contaminating drinking water and soil and entering human bodies, where they have been linked to a range of health concerns, including cancers, liver damage, kidney disease, low birth weight, autoimmune disorders, thyroid problems, low birth weights, compromised immune systems, and a host of other health problems.

PFOA and PFOS are the most notorious “forever chemicals,” and before they were phased out by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), they were recognized as global pollutants, linked to several toxic injury chemical cases against DuPont, one of the largest polluters of PFAS.

Research suggests that nearly every source of surface water is contaminated by PFAS. Alarmingly persistent and mobile, “forever chemicals” leach through the soil to drinking water, threatening the health of people, wildlife and the wider environment.  Rain, food, sewage sludge that farmers spread on cropland as fertilizer – tests have revealed dangerous levels of PFAS in all sorts of everyday contexts. In fact, PFAS are so ubiquitous that it’s estimated they are in 99 percent of Americans’ blood!

Data compiled in 2018 by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) shows over 700-PFAS contaminated sites in America. High PFAS levels exist in drinking water in 34 U.S. cities, and of the tap water samples taken from 44 places in 31 states, only one location had no detectable PFAS.  Miami, Philadelphia, New Orleans and the northern New Jersey suburbs have the highest levels in the USA.   The average household water filter isn’t capable of removing PFAS from the tap. The data suggested that roughly 110 million Americans could be contaminated by PFAS.