PFAS

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of man-made chemicals that includes PFOA, PFOS, GenX, and many others. PFAS are used in a variety of consumer products including non-stick cookware, water-repellent clothing, stain-resistant fabrics and carpets, personal care products, firefighting foams, and food packaging. Studies have shown that exposure to PFAS can cause adverse health effects including reproductive, developmental, and organ damage, impacts on the immune system, thyroid disruption, and cancer.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of human-made chemicals widely used and found in everyday products — from cookware and cosmetics to food packaging, drinking water, and agricultural land. Known as “Forever Chemicals” for their persistence in the environment and the human body, PFAS have been linked to serious health risks, including cancer, reproductive harm, and immune system disruption. Some manufacturers have voluntarily phased out so-called long-chain PFAS, such as PFOA and PFOS, and replaced them with their short-chain cousins, but early evidence suggests that these are just as harmful. In response, states have been enacting legislation to reduce exposure to PFAS in a range of products and improve transparency around their use and presence.