Last Updated December 4th 2025

TL;DR

PFAS (“forever chemicals”) are a large class of over 10,000 durable synthetic compounds used since the 1940s in consumer and industrial products. Because they do not break down and can accumulate in the human body, long-chain PFAS like PFOA and PFOS pose significant health risks, including cancer and developmental issues. They contaminate drinking water across the U.S., and although EPA federal limits exist, many of these regulations are now under review. The EPA is approving more PFAS-like pesticides and in response, some states are increasingly restricting PFAS in consumer goods, especially food packaging and textiles.

The PFAS Problem

PFAS stands for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances. This is a large group of over 10,000 synthetic chemicals that contain a carbon-chain backbone with at least one CF₃ (perfluorinated methyl) or CF₂ (perfluorinated methylene) group.

The carbon–fluorine bond is incredibly strong (approx. 450 kJ/mol), making PFAS-containing materials extremely durable and chemically stable; hence the nickname “forever chemicals.”¹

Why they matter

Since the 1940s, PFAS have been used in many food and industrial products. Because they don’t break down easily, they remain in the environment and can accumulate in the human body. Today, PFAS are found in water, soil, and wildlife; according to the CDC, 97% of Americans have detectable PFAS in their blood.²

We can come into contact with PFAS in many everyday products, including:

Non-stick cookware (Teflon coatings)
Food packaging (fast-food wrappers, microwave popcorn bags)
Some cosmetics and cleaning products
Water- and stain-resistant fabrics ³

All PFAS chemicals present health concerns, although some categories such as short-chain PFAS (e.g., PFBS, GenX) or polymeric PFAS (e.g., coatings) are less immediately problematic than others. Long-chain PFAS like PFOA and PFOS have longer carbon backbones (at least eight carbons) and more carbon–fluorine bonds. These PFAS are especially concerning because they bind strongly to blood proteins and are difficult for the kidneys to filter out, leading them to accumulate in the body. ⁴

Accumulation of PFAS can lead to health issues including:

Increased cholesterol
Immune system effects
Thyroid disruption
Liver damage
Increased risk of kidney and testicular cancers
Lower birth weight and developmental issues
Decreased vaccine response ⁵

Current policy landscape

PFOA was banned in the U.S. in 2014, and banned worldwide under the Stockholm Convention in 2020.⁶

Water

Today, more than 200 million Americans have PFAS in their water supply. The U.S. EPA considers PFOA and PFOS “hazardous substances” and has set maximum contaminant level (MCL) standards for PFAS in drinking water at:

4 parts per trillion (ppt) for PFOA and PFOS.
10 ppt for PFNA, PFHxS, and GenX.
A Hazard Index MCL of 1 for mixtures of PFNA, PFHxS, PFBS, and GenX. ⁷

However, the EPA is now moving to roll back these limits and allow higher PFAS levels in the drinking water supply—specifically by eliminating limits for PFHxS, PFNA, PFBS, and GenX (scheduled for 2027), and extending enforcement deadlines for PFOA and PFOS. These proposed changes are being challenged in court by the American Chemistry Council and the National Association of Manufacturers. ⁸ ⁹

Crops

7 out of 10 pesticides contain at least one of the 200 registered PFAS ingredients, and 14% of pesticides used today have a PFAS chemical as the active ingredient. One insecticide, Spiromesifen, contains PFOS at levels as high as 19 million parts per trillion (ppt). California’s agricultural fields are sprayed with an average of 2.5 million pounds of PFAS pesticides per year, and pesticides are a major way PFAS chemicals enter the water supply. The EPA continues to approve more PFAS-like containing pesticides through loopholes, stating that molecules with only a single fluorinated carbon do not qualify as PFAS. Read the EPA’s full response here. ¹⁰ ¹¹ ¹²

Consumer Products

Many states restrict PFAS in food packaging, textiles, or consumer goods. States that have enacted or are pursuing restrictions on PFAS in food packaging include: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maryland, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Maine, and Washington. Check your state’s laws here. ¹³

References

National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS). Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS). https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/pfc#:~:text=Per%2D%20and%20polyfluoroalkyl%20substances%20(PFAS,degrade%20easily%20in%20the%20environment
CBS News Colorado. CDC: 97% of Americans have PFAS in their blood. https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/forever-chemicals-blood-test/#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20CDC%2C%2097%25%20of%20Americans,that%20can%20check%20for%20several%20PFAS%20compounds
Washington State Department of Health. PFAS in Consumer Products. https://doh.wa.gov/community-and-environment/contaminants/pfas/consumer-products#:~:text=Non%2Dstick%20cookware%2C%20like%20pots,food%20while%20you're%20cooking
Sunderland, E. M., et al. (2022). Review of PFAS Toxicokinetics. Environmental Health Perspectives. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8878656/#:~:text=Of%20note%2C%20the%20perfluoroalkyl%20PFAS,D%20and%20also%20Table%201
Agency for Toxic Substances & Disease Registry (ATSDR). PFAS and Your Health. https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/pfas/about/health-effects.html#:~:text=Increases%20in%20cholesterol%20levels%20(PFOA,and%20testicular%20cancer%20(PFOA)
Chicago Council on Global Affairs. (2023). PFAS: Countries Begin Regulating “Forever Chemicals.” https://globalaffairs.org/commentary/blogs/pfas-forever-chemicals-countries-regulations#:~:text=Governments%20gradually%20started%20banning%20the,What%20countries%20are%20regulating%20PFAS
National League of Cities. (2024). 6 Things for Local Leaders to Know About EPA’s New PFAS Drinking Water Regulations.
https://www.nlc.org/article/2024/04/19/6-things-for-local-leaders-to-know-about-epas-new-pfas-drinking-water-regulations/#:~:text=For%20PFOA%20and%20PFOS%2C%20two,Timeline%20for%20Compliance
Environment America. (2024). EPA Moves to Allow More PFAS in Drinking Water. https://environmentamerica.org/articles/epa-moves-to-allow-more-pfas-in-drinking-water/#:~:text=John%20Rumpler,Here's%20the%20story
National Ground Water Association (NGWA). (2025). EPA Drops Plan to Regulate PFAS in Wastewater.
https://www.ngwa.org/detail/news/2025/01/30/epa-drops-plan-to-regulate-pfas-in-wastewater-drinking-water-standard-not-impacted?utm_source=chatgpt.com
Center for Food Safety. PFAS in Pesticides.
https://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/issues/6927/forever-chemicals/pfas-in-pesticides
Environmental Working Group (EWG). (2025). EWG Responds to Lee Zeldin: PFAS Pesticides Are Bad News—not Fake News.
https://www.ewg.org/news-insights/news/2025/12/ewg-lee-zeldin-pfas-pesticides-are-bad-news-not-fake-news
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). (2024). Fact Check: EPA Debunks False Claims About Approval of a “Forever Chemical.” https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/fact-check-epa-debunks-false-claims-agency-recently-approved-forever-chemical
BCLP Law. (2024). PFAS in Food Packaging: State-by-State Regulations.
https://www.bclplaw.com/en-US/events-insights-news/pfas-in-food-packaging-state-by-state-regulations.html#:~:text=Timing%20*%20New%20York%20%2D%20December%2031%2C,1%2C%202024%20(ban%20applies%20to%20all%20materials)

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse