Forever Yours?

Per and Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are the 'Forever chemicals', produced by Dupont; 3Ms and others. They've been dubbed 'Forever chemicals' because they don't break down and persist in the environment. PFASs are used to make a vast variety of products (including cardboard fast-food containers, clothes and carpets) water-, stain- and stick-resistant. 'Forever chemicals' have been linked, however, to human cancer; immuno-deficiencies and reproductive problems. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has now found that the drinking water of at least 26 million Americans is contaminated with PFASs (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/aug/17/pfas-us-drinking-water-contaminated-forever-chemicals-epa). The EPA fear that hundreds of millions of Americans are probably exposed daily to PFASs in their drinking water. The potential long-term consequences are worrying. Plans to phase out PFASs need to be urgently accelerated as well as reducing their concentrations in drinking water.