Health experts have linked PFAS, also found in consumer products and fish, to a range of health effects
In the eight decades since they were created, so-called forever chemicals have reached remote corners of the Arctic and populous cities and rural areas around the world. The chemicals have been detected in the open ocean and the tissue of animal species, as well as the drinking water that millions of Americans consume each day.
Also known as PFAS, or perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, they can stay in the environment for years without breaking down.
Nearly all people in the U.S. are believed to have some level of PFAS in their blood, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That is because these harmful chemicals can be found in a range of products, from cosmetics and fish, to food packaging and nonstick cookware, in addition to the water supply.
The Wall Street Journal
By Nidhi Subbaraman
Updated April 10, 2024