PFAS The Always and Forever Chemicals
Article By Helen Lovell-Wayne
Picture By Tamara
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This paper was written with the sole intention of informing consumers about the products they may currently be buying. Hopefully, with enough demand from consumers, industries will supply safer and more sustainable products.
When forever chemicals, formerly known as per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (or PFAS for short) were accidentally discovered during World War II, many manufacturers quickly started utilizing them. After all, they were a cheap way to make goods resistant to-water, heat, and oil. Companies utilized them for various purposes such as making nonstick cookware, waterproof clothing, stain-resistant fabrics, food packaging, textiles, carpets, paints, medical devices, auto parts (Fang, J. et al., 2024), ski waxes and firefighting foams (Brunn, H, et al. 2023). PFAS also facilitate important processes such as metalworking and semiconductor manufacturing (C. Beans 2021). The very properties that make products more desirable also make them exceedingly resistant to degradation in the environment (C. Beans 2021). In recent studies, PFAS chemicals cause severe problems for both human health and the worldwide environment.
In terms of human health, PFAS exposure has been shown to disrupt metabolism and immune pathways. Additionally, PFAS induces reproductive and developmental toxicity and elevates cancer risk (Fang, J. et al., 2024). Further studies have found that several PFAS chemicals have multiple toxic effects on specific human organs, including having ill effects on the liver, kidneys, thyroid, and, overall, the immune system. Researchers report that toxic PFAS chemicals are found in the blood of nearly all Americans sampled (C. Beans 2021).
🌎Rethinking PFAS Chemicals 🧪
As a result, there has been some serious backpedaling on the use of these chemicals. Even if these chemicals stopped being created today, there would still be a problem with those already in the ecosystem. In order to combat forever chemicals, we need to both stop production and find a way to break down those already in the soil, water, and air.
To begin with, some forever chemicals are nonessential, so manufacturers can halt production immediately. Pressure to comprehensively regulate the entire substance group of PFAS is growing worldwide. In the Zurich Statement of 2018, more than 50 scientists called for new approaches to the assessment and management of PFAS as a group of substances (Brunn, H, et al. 2023).
🚫PFAS Bans in Europe and the USA🇺🇸
Later In July 2021, five European nations (Germany, Denmark, Sweden, the Netherlands, and Norway) announced plans to ban all PFAS production and use (Reinikainen et al., 2024 as cited in Fang, J. et al., 2024). In the United States, Maine became the first state to halt the sale of PFAS products from 2023 on, and numerous other states have also implemented similar restrictions on cosmetics, textiles, and food packaging that use PFAS (Fang, J. et al., 2024)
Many industries already recognize that a world without PFAS is achievable. For example, major manufacturers in clothing, furniture, cosmetics, and other sectors have started phasing out PFAS. This action demonstrates that using PFAS is not an essential component of their products (M. Ateia and Scheringer,M. 2024). Although this appears on the surface to be a step in the right direction, this needs to be an effort sustained by all companies. Forever chemicals can and do travel around the world. The actions of a single manufacturer can create effects on global environmental and human health. Some companies may need to be compelled to comply.
🍳PFAS In Your Household🧥
There are over 10,000 forever chemicals, so laws cannot be specific. In order to maximize profits, companies tend to find ways around regulations. Even in California, which has the strictest forever chemicals laws, there is a problem with the vagueness of their statutes (J. Goldman, 2025). Companies take advantage of the wording and keep using the chemicals as standard practice.
As a consumer, there are two things you can do. First, avoid products that contain PFAS compounds. They belong to two groups. Per- and polyfluorinated substances (Brunn, H, et al. 2023). So, if the ingredients list these compounds, don’t buy that product. Buy one that doesn’t contain them, if this is possible. Many products have nonfluorinated alternatives: These are substances or materials that provide water and oil repellency without containing fluorine. These products are silicone-based, wax-based, or bio-based materials, and fluorine-free polymers (Naidu, R. et al. 2025).
💧PFAS Conclusions💦
Another way to protect yourself and your household is to filter your water. Some filters degrade the PFAS into nontoxic byproducts (Asharuddin, S. et al. 2025). Common removal techniques Ion exchange, granular activated carbon, powdered activated carbon, nanofiltration, membrane filtration, ozonization, and reverse osmosis, actively remove contaminants from water. The problem is that all these techniques work on some of the PFAS chemicals but not all of them. In recent years, hybrid treatment systems that combine multiple technologies have gained attention for their potential to enhance PFAS removal effectively (M. Ateia and Scheringer, M. 2024)
Some water treatment plants have started using filters as well. It would be best if the consumer could find out if and what method of filter their water company is using. Not all filters can combat all forever chemicals. So, using a different method than the water company can maximize the breakdown of the PFAS compounds. Hopefully, in the future, only diamonds will be forever.
