Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances

The per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been dubbed "forever-chemicals" because they tend to be highly stable due to the strong chemical bond between carbon and fluorine. Thus, the major PFAS do not break down, potentially causing continued dissemination to surface water bodies or groundwater (e.g., from former production sites, fire-training areas, or waste dumps). Once released to the environment, PFAS accumulate in marine and aquatic food chains, and in wildlife. Industry claims inspired the belief that the PFAS were almost innocuous. However, as early toxicology studies were finally released in 2000, information emerged on transmission from mother to progeny and a variety of adverse health effects, thereby inspiring independent academic research. New evidence showed that PFAS exposure at lower and lower levels could represent a health hazard. At the same time, PFAS pollution was found to occur globally. The persistence of these compounds, both in the environment and in the human body, added to the concern that these compounds might represent a new environmental hazard.