PFAS – The “Forever Chemicals”
Authors: Tricia Vail & Myriam Gueye | Last updated: September 2023
Overview
Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) are a family of more than 4,700 chemical molecules which are persistent, non-stick, chemical, and heat-resistant and have waterproof characteristics. EPA database have more than 12,000 PFAS with confirmed structure. Since PFAS persist in the environment, they have been found in the air, water, sediment, soil, and even in rain.
Due to their unique chemical properties, PFAS were used in different industries and daily consumer goods like cosmetics, drinking water, firefighting foam, food packaging, textiles, cookware, automobiles and much more. After release from industrial plants, PFAS eventually enter water bodies and oceans, where they do not dissolve but are released into the atmosphere via aerosols. Rainfall brings the chemicals back to the surface, so they continue to pose a threat to the environment decades after their original release.
Even though the world’s largest producers of PFAS discontinued certain products, production of alternate fluorochemicals is ongoing, maintaining PFAS contamination in the environment.
Download this infographic to learn more about PFAS concerns, regulations, sample preparation and sampling tips.
- Document type: Infographic
- Page count: 1
- Read time: 10 minutes
Key Takeaways
- Concerns about PFAS and their effects on human health and the environment
- PFAS regulations
- Sample preparation for PFAS
- Tips for PFAS sampling
This Resource is Designed for:
- Any Chemical/Analytical Lab Interested in or Conducting PFAS Testing
Applications Supported:
- Any Labs Interested in Conducting PFAS Testing Using PFAS Free Products Assuring the Reduction of False Positive Test Results
Preview of Infographic
