PFAS, short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a group of synthetic chemicals used in a wide variety of products. Exposure to PFAS, however, has been linked to many negative health effects, including cancer and reduced fertility. Because PFAS molecules do not break down easily and because they are used in so many products, PFAS are found in food, drinking water, and human bloodstreams across the world.
Several thousand types of PFAS exist. Each PFAS molecule contains multiple atoms of the chemical element fluorine bonded to a chain of carbon atoms. PFAS are useful because of their hydrophobic and lipophobic properties. Hydrophobic substances are repelled by water. Lipophobic substances are repelled by lipids, such as fats. PFAS do not break down easily, so they accumulate in water, soil, and the human body, among other things. For this reason, they have been nicknamed “forever chemicals.” PFAS have been known by other names, including perfluorinated chemicals (PFC’s), fluorosurfactants, and fluorochemicals.
The first PFAS were created in the 1930’s. Over the next decade, their manufacture increased. The chemical company DuPont and the manufacturing company 3M were early pioneers. PFAS were used in many industries and manufacturing processes and in such products as toothpaste, lotion, and shampoo. A PFAS called Teflon was used to coat nonstick cooking pans and in other products. PFAS were also used in firefighting foams.
Though scientists once thought PFAS to be harmless, they first detected their negative health effects by at least the late 1950’s. PFAS especially harmed those who worked with the chemicals and local communities near manufacturing plants or disposal sites. Studies conducted by PFAS manufacturers beginning in the 1960’s confirmed the toxicity of the chemicals. Companies rejected the results of their studies, declined to release data to the public, and continued to sell products with PFAS.
In the late 1980’s, DuPont began to dispose of large quantities of PFAS at a site in West Virginia that connected to the Ohio River. In 1999, a dairy farmer near that site sued DuPont after many of his cows died. This legal action began a series of lawsuits against manufacturers of PFAS that brought hundreds of millions of dollars in awards to those who were highly exposed.
Since the 2000’s, some companies have voluntarily reduced or ended their production or use of PFAS. In some cases, companies switched to other PFAS believed to be less harmful. Many of these replacement PFAS were later also found to be toxic by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Some states have implemented regulations on PFAS. In April 2024, the EPA announced new restrictions on six PFAS in drinking water. While American production of some PFAS has reduced, they can still be found in many products. These include clothing, nonstick cookware, food packaging, and cosmetics.
