FREE Case Evaluation: 1-888-887-3117
What is PFAS is a critical question affecting nearly every American. These man-made chemicals are found in thousands of everyday products, from non-stick cookware to waterproof clothing. Used since the 1940s, their ability to resist heat, water, and oil also makes them extremely persistent in our environment and bodies.
Quick Answer:
The problem is massive, with nearly 15,000 different PFAS chemicals identified by the EPA. Because they don't break down, they accumulate in people, animals, and the environment. Contamination has reached every corner of the globe, from Mount Everest to the deep ocean, sparking concern among scientists, regulators, and affected communities.
I'm Tim Burd, founder of Justice Hero. Through our work connecting people affected by toxic exposure with legal help, I've seen the human impact of PFAS contamination. My experience in complex legal cases involving harmful chemicals provides a unique insight into why understanding what is PFAS is critical for families seeking justice.
Key terms for what is PFAS:
The answer to "what is PFAS" lies in their unique chemistry—the very properties that made them seem like miracle materials but also caused so much harm. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances are a massive family of synthetic chemicals, with the EPA identifying nearly 15,000 different types.
The most well-known are PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) and PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate). Though these "legacy PFAS" are now largely banned, companies often replaced them with similar, equally problematic chemicals. The OECD portal offers guidance on the complex terminology.
The key to their properties is the carbon-fluorine bond, one of the strongest in organic chemistry. This bond is incredibly difficult to break, creating a molecule that is highly resistant to heat, water, and oil. As surfactants, they reduce surface tension, making them ideal for non-stick, waterproof, and stain-resistant applications.
However, this indestructible bond is also the problem. When companies phased out legacy PFAS, they often turned to replacement chemicals with similar bonds. Scientists call this "regrettable substitution," as it trades one persistent chemical for another. Newer, short-chain PFAS were marketed as safer but often share the same persistent traits as their predecessors.
The nickname "forever chemicals" reflects their extreme persistence; they resist degradation from sunlight, bacteria, or heat. Once in the environment, they travel vast distances through air and water, contaminating remote places from Arctic ice to deep ocean trenches. The pollution is so widespread that researchers believe we've exceeded the planetary boundary for chemical pollution.
This persistence leads to bioaccumulation, where the chemicals build up in living organisms. The human body cannot easily eliminate them; some PFAS have a half-life of over eight years. This also causes biomagnification up the food web. As larger animals consume smaller ones, PFAS concentrations increase at each level. This means top predators, including humans, can have much higher levels of these chemicals than the surrounding environment, resulting in a global contamination problem.
Understanding what is PFAS means recognizing their ubiquitous presence. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found PFAS in the blood of 97% of Americans, a result of over 70 years of use in thousands of products. The key is to understand the sources of exposure to make informed choices.
Many everyday consumer products contain PFAS:
Industrial uses are a major source of widespread environmental contamination. Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (AFFF), a firefighting foam used at military bases, airports, and training sites, is a primary culprit. PFAS from AFFF seeps into soil and groundwater, contaminating drinking water for entire communities.
Manufacturing facilities that produce or use PFAS are another contamination source, releasing chemicals into the air and water. Landfills and wastewater treatment plants also become collection points, as conventional treatment cannot remove PFAS, allowing them to leach back into the environment.
Contaminated drinking water is a primary exposure route for many people. The U.S. Geological Survey estimated in 2023 that at least 45% of the nation's tap water contains these chemicals.
Food contamination occurs when crops are irrigated with contaminated water or when livestock drink it. Fish accumulate PFAS from contaminated waterways, with freshwater fish often showing high levels. The FDA is actively gathering information on PFAS in seafood to address this pathway.
Contamination of agricultural soil is also a major concern. When contaminated biosolids are used as fertilizer, crops absorb PFAS, a situation that has devastated farms in states like Maine.
Understanding what is PFAS requires knowing the serious health and environmental risks they pose. Decades of scientific research link these "forever chemicals" to significant health problems. While research on all 15,000+ variants is ongoing, the evidence against well-studied PFOA and PFOS is deeply concerning.
PFAS exposure is linked to a wide range of serious health effects:
The environmental damage from PFAS is extensive and global.
Soil and water pollution is widespread around manufacturing sites, military bases, and farms using contaminated biosolids. PFAS are highly mobile in water, spreading easily through groundwater and surface waters. The U.S. Geological Survey found that at least 45% of U.S. tap water is contaminated.
The chemicals' mobility in air and water makes the problem global. They travel through the atmosphere and have been found in rainwater worldwide at levels exceeding EPA health advisories.
Bio-magnification in food webs concentrates PFAS in animals higher up the food chain, including fish and wildlife. This poses a risk to both ecosystems and humans who consume them.
Contamination is so extensive that PFAS are found in remote regions like the Arctic. Some scientists believe we have exceeded the planetary boundary for chemical pollution on a global scale. The long-term costs of inaction, from health impacts to environmental cleanup, are estimated in the trillions globally.
Governments, scientists, and communities are mobilizing to tackle what is PFAS contamination through regulation, detection, and cleanup. This progress is creating pathways to justice for affected communities.
The EPA's PFAS Strategic Roadmap is a comprehensive federal plan to restrict PFAS and hold polluters accountable. A key step was designating PFOA and PFOS as hazardous substances under the Superfund law. In April 2024, the EPA also finalized the first national drinking water standards for six PFAS, requiring public water systems to reduce them to near-zero levels.
State-level action has also been critical. States like Maine, Michigan, New Jersey, and California have led the way with product bans, tough drinking water standards, and lawsuits against manufacturers. International cooperation is growing, with the Stockholm Convention targeting PFOS and PFOA for global elimination and countries like Canada setting their own guidelines.
Detecting and removing PFAS requires advanced science to find chemicals at parts-per-trillion levels and break their strong chemical bonds.
Detection technology has advanced with methods like mass spectrometry and EPA-approved tests (537.1, 1633). New high-throughput detection tools and portable devices are also making testing faster and more accessible.
Common water treatment methods include granular activated carbon (GAC), ion exchange resins, and reverse osmosis. Destruction technologies that aim to break down PFAS completely, such as high-temperature incineration and electrochemical oxidation, also show promise. Researchers are exploring other solutions like bioremediation and constructed wetlands.
The primary challenge is the sheer size of the PFAS family—nearly 15,000 variants. Regulating them individually is impossible, so regulating as a class is emerging as a practical solution. This approach treats all PFAS as potentially harmful, preventing manufacturers from swapping one banned chemical for another equally problematic one.
A significant data gap exists, as most newer PFAS lack the extensive toxicity data available for PFOA and PFOS. The science is evolving rapidly, requiring a flexible and responsive approach from all stakeholders.
While what is PFAS contamination is widespread, you can take meaningful steps to reduce your exposure and protect your family.
Filter your drinking water. Check your local water utility's quality report. If you have a private well, especially near a potential contamination site like a military base, have it tested by a certified lab. If PFAS are present, use a water filter certified by NSF under Standards 53 or 58.
Avoid non-stick cookware. Opt for stainless steel, cast iron, or ceramic. If you use non-stick pans, avoid high heat and scratches, which can release chemicals.
Limit certain food packaging. Reduce use of grease-resistant wrappers, like those for fast food and microwave popcorn. Opt for fresh foods over heavily packaged ones.
Read product labels. Look for "PFAS-free" or "fluorine-free" labels on carpets, furniture, and clothing. Question if you truly need stain- or water-resistant features.
Check your cosmetics. Avoid personal care products with ingredients like "perfluor-," "polyfluor-," or "PTFE." Choose from the growing number of PFAS-free brands.
Clean regularly. Since PFAS accumulate in dust, use a damp cloth for dusting and a vacuum with a HEPA filter to reduce indoor exposure.
Be mindful of fish consumption. Pay attention to local advisories, especially for freshwater fish caught near potentially contaminated areas.
Support PFAS-free companies. Use your purchasing power to support brands that are transparent about removing PFAS from their products.
Start with one or two manageable changes. Every step reduces your family's exposure and promotes the demand for safer products.
Understanding what is PFAS is a critical environmental health issue. These "forever chemicals" are in countless products, and their defining quality—persistence—now threatens global health and ecosystems. The problem's scope is staggering: nearly 15,000 chemicals have contaminated the globe, from remote mountains to the deep ocean, and are found in the blood of 97% of Americans.
However, knowledge empowers action. As we learn more about PFAS, we can better protect ourselves and demand change. Scientific breakthroughs, new regulations, and community activism are making a real difference. At Justice Hero, we see how this knowledge turns affected families into advocates who hold corporations accountable and fight for a safer future.
While the fight isn't over, real progress is being made. Every informed choice and legal action brings us closer to a future free from these "forever chemicals."
If you or someone you care about has been affected by PFAS contamination, you don't have to face this alone. Learn more about legal options for PFAS contamination, such as firefighting foam lawsuits, and find how Justice Hero can help you steer this complex situation and pursue the justice you deserve.
