Yours Forever?

Per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are known as the 'forever chemicals'. They are very difficult to breakdown. PFAS are widely used in comsumer products (from carpets to pizza boxes), making treated items water and stain resistant. They are employed in spite of these chemicals being linked to a variety of medical disorders and environmental problems. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has now revealed that PFAS production can have a major effect on global heating (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/sep/16/forever-chemicals-pfas-production-greenhouse-gases-analysis-finds). The EPA found, in 2019, that one PFAS manufacturing plant (Daikin in Decatur, Alabama) was the second largest producer of chlorodifluoromethane (HCFC-22). HCFC-22 is commonly used as a propellant and refrigerant. This compound is also 5000 times more potent than carbon dioxide as a 'greenhouse gas'. In 2019, Daikin released 240,000 pounds of HCFC-22. That amount of HCFC-22 is equivalent to 1bn pounds of carbon dioxide. It would take 125,000 cars, being driven every day of the year, to emit this much carbon dioxide. Forever chemicals really might be forever. Another good reason to stop producing and using PFAS?