The omnipresence of PFAS—and what we can do about them
Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)—also known as "forever chemicals"—are everywhere. Created in the 1940s, these synthetic compounds are an unseen ingredient in many items that we use in our daily lives, like cleaning products, food pack.....»»
Converting PFAS "forever chemicals" into valuable compounds
Commonly known as "forever chemicals," PFAS are notorious for persisting in the environment and in our bodies. Osaka Metropolitan University chemists may put an end to the "forever" life of PFAS with their simple yet innovative technique that convert.....»»
Detection of environmental PFAS by interrupted energy transfer
PFAS, a family of highly fluorinated substances, represent a danger for humans and the environment. Particularly problematic members of this family, such as perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) appear to cause organ dama.....»»
Ultrasound may rid groundwater of toxic "forever chemicals"
New research suggests that ultrasound may have potential in treating a group of harmful chemicals known as PFAS to eliminate them from contaminated groundwater......»»
Video: Burning "forever chemicals" with water
Forever chemicals, otherwise known as perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), are extremely useful industrial chemicals. They can also leak into the environment, your drinking water and your blood. And they last (practically) forever. B.....»»
Researchers find Asian Americans to have significantly higher exposure to "toxic forever" chemicals
Asian Americans have significantly higher exposure than other ethnic or racial groups to PFAS, a family of thousands of synthetic chemicals also known as "toxic forever" chemicals, Mount Sinai-led researchers report......»»
"Forever chemicals" could be phased out in Australia under new restrictions. Here"s what you need to know
There's growing global concern about potential risks to human health and the environment from a group of industrial chemicals commonly known as PFAS, or "forever chemicals.".....»»
Get the "forever chemicals" out of our drinking water
A recent study by the U.S. Geological Survey found that nearly half of the drinking water in the United States is contaminated with "forever chemicals," the per- and polyfluoroakyl substances known as PFAS that can cause cancer and other health compl.....»»
PFAS detected in blood of horses and dogs too near factory in eastern North Carolina
Debra Stewart walked toward a horse paddock with a bag of carrots in hand. Whisper, a splashed chocolate and white paint horse, met her at the fence......»»
Proposed PFAS rule would cost companies estimated $1B; Lacks limits and cleanup requirement
A proposed federal rule calls for forcing companies to disclose whether their products contain toxic "forever" chemicals, the government's first attempt at cataloging the pervasiveness of PFAS across the United States......»»
Harmful substances impacting tiger snakes across Perth, study finds
New research has found tiger snakes in Perth's urban wetlands are accumulating high levels of chemical substances from ingesting PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), impacting the venomous reptiles' overall health......»»
Alarmingly high PFAS levels found in the populations of Greenland, the Faroe Islands, Denmark and the UK
The hunting community in Ittoqqotoormiit (Scoresby Sound), Northeast Greenland, has some of the world's highest concentrations of PFAS in their blood, even though they live far away from sources of contamination with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substanc.....»»
Chemists develop sustainable method to remove "forever chemicals" from water
Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are highly versatile chemicals. These fluorine-containing organic molecules are the reason why rain drops simply slide off outdoor jackets. They are used in the greaseproof coating of paper food packaging and are key.....»»
How do you destroy a forever chemical?
3M offers $10.3 billion settlement over PFAS contamination in water systems. What's next? Enlarge (credit: Andrew Brookes) PFAS chemicals seemed like a good idea at first. As Teflon, they made pots easier to clean starti.....»»
PFAS found in blood of dogs, horses living near Fayetteville, NC
In a new study, researchers from North Carolina State University detected elevated PFAS levels in the blood of pet dogs and horses from Gray's Creek, N.C.—including dogs that only drank bottled water. The work establishes horses as an important sen.....»»
PFAS, PFAS everywhere: How pristine are laboratory materials?
How do you study the effects of exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), when it is in everything? To study the effect of a chemical, toxicologists typically expose animals to various doses of the chemical over a period of time so that.....»»
Major US firms agree to $1.2 bn "forever chemicals" settlement
Three major chemical manufacturers announced Friday they will pay nearly $1.2 billion to settle claims that they contaminated water sources across the United States with harmful "forever chemicals" known as PFAS......»»
Secret industry documents reveal that makers of PFAS "forever chemicals" covered up their health dangers
The chemical industry took a page out of the tobacco playbook when they discovered and suppressed their knowledge of health harms caused by exposure to PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), according to an analysis of previously secret industry.....»»
Using microbial degradation to break down chlorinated PFAS in wastewater
A team of chemical and environmental engineers at the University of California, Riverside, has found a way to use microbial degradation to break down chlorinated PFAS in wastewater. In their paper published in the journal Nature Water, the group desc.....»»
New model for predicting adsorption of PFAS by microplastics
Rivers, lakes and oceans worldwide are home to trillions of pieces of plastic pollution that are smaller than five millimeters in length, known as microplastics, and their size allows them to easily enter humans and animals. Some can adsorb and trans.....»»
Communities of color disproportionately exposed to PFAS pollution in drinking water
People who live in communities with higher proportions of Black and Hispanic/Latino residents are more likely to be exposed to harmful levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in their water supplies than people living in other communitie.....»»