<aside> 🥱 I’m lazy, tell me what I need to know in one minute or less…

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<aside> 💡 GOAL: Understand what are PFAS chemicals & why they are used, risks associated with their use and impact to the environment, as well as strategies being employed to reduce harmful effects.

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Agenda

1. What are PFAS and why are they used?

2. What are the issues associated with PFAS?

3. What are we doing about these issues?

Resources

One Town's Fight Against 'Forever' Chemicals

Per- and Polyfluorinated Substances (PFAS) Factsheet | National Biomonitoring Program | CDC

Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)

NCBI - WWW Error Blocked Diagnostic

A Wisconsin Town With Contaminated Drinking Water Must Decide Its Future

Startups Race to Kill ‘Forever Chemicals’

Forever Chemicals PFAS, PFOA, PFOS, BPA, Explained Clearly

Part One: What are PFAS and why are they used?

Part Two: What are the issues associated with PFAS?

Part Three: What are we doing about these issues?

Synopsis

<aside> 🧠 PFAS, short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, comprise a group of chemicals primarily utilized in the production of fluoropolymer products. These compounds are highly resistant to heat, oil, stains, grease, and water, making them indispensable in various applications such as clothing, furniture, adhesives, food packaging, and electrical insulation. Their versatility arises from the exceptional covalent bond strength they exhibit. However, the extensive usage of thousands of PFAS variants in consumer, commercial, and industrial products has made it challenging to pinpoint which specific PFAS are responsible for particular issues, as they persist in the environment for thousands of years, earning them the moniker "forever chemicals."

Many concerns surround certain PFAS, including PFOS and PFOA, due to their environmental persistence, potential for soil contamination, bioaccumulation in wildlife, and adverse health effects. Elevated serum levels of these substances have been associated with increased cholesterol, liver enzyme alterations, reduced birth weights in infants, weakened vaccine responses in children, higher blood pressure risk in pregnant women, and elevated risks of kidney or testicular cancer. Disturbingly, studies have shown that nearly 97% of people have detectable levels of PFAS in their bloodstream, and currently, there are no established "safe" exposure limits.

Addressing these issues involves a multi-pronged approach, including rigorous journalism and government agency initiatives to inform the public. Research efforts are focused on identifying harmful PFAS types, understanding their mechanisms of harm in the human body through epidemiological studies, comprehending their transport mechanisms in air, water, dust, and soil, and developing innovative technologies for their detection and removal from the environment. Startups are emerging with the mission to reduce PFAS waste, offering new products that avoid PFAS use, technologies for PFAS destruction, and methods for filtering and removing PFAS from sources that expose humans to these chemicals. The market for PFAS destruction is estimated at around $20 billion, while the cleanup market is valued at approximately $100 billion, underlining the significance of addressing the PFAS issue on a global scale.

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