The “forever chemicals” perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a growing source of concern for public agencies, businesses, and individuals and increasingly the subject of federal legislation and nationwide litigation.

These synthetic chemicals are used in a wide range of commercial, industrial, and military applications and persist in the environment, drinking water and the human body for extended periods of time. Common sources of exposure to PFAS include food packaging, nonstick cookware, stain-repellant fabrics and upholstery, furniture, carpets, pesticides, firefighting foam, manufacturing processes, and even drinking water in more than 2,800 communities throughout the United States.