Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are human-made substances used in thousands of products, from medical devices to fire-fighting foam to oil- and stain-resistant coatings on carpets and packaging. They help make these products resistant to heat, water, stains, and grease. However, research over the past several decades has found evidence that PFAS persist in the environment for long periods of time, potentially leading to harmful human exposures.
Contributor(s): National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; Division on Earth and Life Studies; Board on Environmental Studies and Toxicology; Stephanie Johnson, Kaley Beins, and Paula Whitacre, Rapporteurs