Media reports on the dangers of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have catapulted these compounds into the public discourse. Even people unfamiliar with the technical names for PFAS have purchased products in which they are contained. Teflon nonstick cookware, stain resistant carpeting, food packaging, cosmetics, firefighting foams, and water repellant clothing constitute a sampling of the goods containing this family of chemicals.

Until recently, PFAS were considered “emerging contaminants” not subject to state or federal regulation. The EPA now calls PFAS an urgent threat to public health and the environment. It is well-established that exposure to PFAS causes various types of cancers and other injuries such as impaired kidney functioning, elevated cholesterol levels and hormonal disruption.