Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, are a collection of over 7,000 manmade chemicals. The original PFAS chemical compounds were created in the 1940s, with thousands of additional compounds developed over time. PFAS have unique physical properties, including high resistance to heat and degradation, and incredible ability to repel water and oil — all of which led to PFAS being nicknamed the “forever chemicals.”

However, the beneficial characteristics that make PFAS useful in a plethora of commercial applications are also the reason PFAS are the subject of biopersistence and human health concerns. Read more.…