Ten Shocking Facts About Forever Chemicals

You might only have heard about them recently, but forever chemicals have been a part of all our lives for decades. Per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances, or PFAS for short, are used in everything from pots and pans to firefighting foam. The industry fell in love with them for their hardy, repellent properties. However, it is those same properties that scientists say make them such a danger to human health.

Forever chemicals are now in our water supplies, our farmland, and even our blood. Scientists have found alarming links to health conditions like cancers and fertility issues in both humans and animals. Chemical companies knew about this for decades but buried the evidence. That said, there is hope on the horizon. Recent research suggests that gut microbes and a high-fiber diet could be key to flushing them out of our bodies and ecosystems. Here are ten alarming facts about forever chemicals, the alkyl substances that are nearly impossible to get rid of.

Related: 10 Times Corporations Poisoned People En Masse

10 Forever Chemicals Are Nearly Impossible to Get Rid Of

PFAS are called forever chemicals for a reason. As the name suggests, the substances are designed to be indestructible—or as close to it as scientists can get. Tests show that PFAS are among the most persistent manmade chemicals in existence. They may not be natural, but they can linger in nature for long stretches of time while barely degrading. That durability has made PFAS one of the industry’s go-to candidates to stop food sticking to products and fend off stains.

The chemical family is made up of more than 10,000 synthetic substances. Each one has a molecular backbone made from a linked chain of carbon and fluorine atoms. The bond between carbon and fluorine is one of the strongest, shortest bonds in chemistry. It accounts for why PFAS are so tough to get rid of once they enter the environment.^[1]

9 They Pose a Major Health Risk

Type 2 diabetes. Lower fertility. Several cancers. Studies show that forever chemicals are linked to all these health impacts and plenty more. Researchers are still working out what effects different PFAS have on the body, depending on exposure. While there is much to learn, evidence points to a whole host of nasty diseases and conditions associated with exposure to these toxic chemicals.

A 2023 study, for example, found that alkyl substances may hinder the onset of puberty in girls. Scientists warn that this could lead to more serious health outcomes later in life, like breast cancer and thyroid disease. Elsewhere, researchers found that PFAS could cause lower bone mineral density in teens. Medical experts have discovered links to diabetes, liver damage, and various cancers. The list goes on.

It explains why scientists are so keen to find a way to reduce the amount of forever chemicals in the body. Luckily, they have had some success, as we will see later in this list.^[2]

8 Most of Us Have Forever Chemicals in Our Blood

Whether you have heard of them or not, it’s highly likely that right now, forever chemicals are circulating in your blood. PFAS are now so common in nature that they appear in most people, including unborn babies.

A 2007 study found that in the U.S., over 98% of humans have forever chemicals in their blood. Researchers looked at data from a 2003–04 national survey. They compared it with a similar study from the turn of the millennium. The exact levels of chemicals in the blood varied based on race and gender, but the vast majority tested positive for alkyl substances.

There was a slight drop in blood levels in the early 2000s after the industry stopped producing certain chemicals. However, since then, scientists have created new PFAS. The impact of this is difficult to track.^[3]

7 They Are Found in So Many Everyday Items

Forever chemicals may well be lurking all over your home. Companies have used PFAS in consumer products since the 1950s, as well as in jet engines, construction, and medical devices. One of the reasons they are so popular is their impressive properties. PFAS provide a coating that stops food and grease from sticking and prevents stains. Teflon is probably the best-known example. They also fend off corrosion and heat damage.

PFAS crop up in all kinds of everyday items, from cooking pots and frying pans to carpets and school uniforms. A study by the charity Fidra found forever chemicals in food packaging from eight of the UK’s nine biggest supermarkets and in all takeaway containers. Experts say that many products, like school uniforms, do not need a stain-proof coating at all. For those who do, scientists are now working to develop new alternatives. Researchers warn against acting too hastily. The danger is that if they cut out PFAS too soon, they might unknowingly replace it with something just as bad for the environment, if not worse.

When it comes to forever chemicals, experts say household products are not the greatest danger. Sustainable chemicals advisor Stephanie Metzger told reporters, “The biggest risk is not from household products. The bigger potential route for harm is through drinking contaminated water and potentially through food; there are movements to phase out the use of PFAS in food packaging because that comes into contact with what we eat. It is a more direct link to our bodies than, say, a carpet that’s been treated to be stain-resistant.”^[4]

6 Contaminated Drinking Water Is a Rapidly Growing Issue

Forever chemicals are extremely stubborn. Once they find their way into drinking water, they are nearly impossible to remove. Treatment plants struggle to scrub out PFAS from the water, and yet the number of contaminated water systems is rising rapidly. PFAS are also highly mobile and often carried by tides and rivers. So once an area of water becomes polluted, it doesn’t usually take long for the chemicals to spread.

Regular tap filters cannot take alkyl substances out of the water. However, some more sophisticated systems have been found to lower the pollution level.

In 2024, U.S. officials said that 6% to 10% of public drinking water systems may have unsafe levels of PFAS. The Environmental Protection Agency found that millions of Americans could be taking in polluted tap water. They say almost any exposure to PFAS in drinking water poses a health risk.^[5]

5 They Take Their Toll on Wildlife

All this toxic matter is wreaking havoc on ecosystems across the planet. Scientists have cataloged the harmful impact that these chemicals have on wildlife. Exposure to PFAS poses a massive risk to animal well-being. Experts at the Environmental Working Group say over 600 species could be harmed by forever chemicals.

The long-lasting substances can have a detrimental effect on a species’ ability to reproduce. Researchers found that polar bears in Greenland are impacted by the chemicals, as are sea turtles. They noticed a growing trend in mother sea turtles passing on PFAS to their eggs, which means their young are less likely to hatch. Scientists identified multiple severe conditions linked to forever chemicals. Bottlenose dolphins show signs of chronic inflammation. Unborn rats have a greater chance of developing tumors.

Forever chemicals are also known to weaken the immune system. In North Carolina, alligators in the Cape Fear River are taking longer to heal from their wounds. This leaves them more open to disease. Blood tests reveal heightened levels of 14 types of PFAS.^[6]

4 Millions of Acres of Farmland Are Contaminated

Farmers spreading sewage sludge on their fields has led to a spike in PFAS on farmland. Researchers say that almost 70 million acres of land are already contaminated. Sewage sludge, or biosolids, is a slurry created as a byproduct of wastewater treatment.

Survey data suggests that around 18% of U.S. agricultural land is fertilized using biosolids. Farmers in California, Florida, and Illinois are among the worst offenders. Experts warn that the sludge often contains high concentrations of toxic substances, which seep into crops and water. This can pose a severe danger to public health.

PFAS are often soaked up by livestock that feed on tainted crops, which can then lead to contaminated animal products. Sadly, many farmers have had to put their animals down after they were exposed to forever chemicals.^[7]

3 Chemical Companies Covered Up the Dangers for Decades

You might be wondering if forever chemicals cause so much horrific damage, why have manufacturers continued to use them for so long? The answer is that the industry knew the risks for decades, but they did everything in their power to hide them from regulators and the public.

Chemical companies like 3M and DuPont deliberately buried their own research into the many hazards linked to PFAS. The health issues only started to come out in 1998, decades after the firms first covered them up. A court case about sick cattle led to DuPont divulging thousands of documents. These documents revealed how the company hid its internal research into the health impact of exposure to forever chemicals. They also concealed tests that found chemicals had seeped into the local water supply.

In 2018, 3M was also found to have downplayed the hazards of forever chemicals. The company refused to turn over any of its evidence to the Environmental Protection Agency for over 20 years. Both 3M and DuPont have since had to pay millions of dollars in legal settlements for their dishonest actions.^[8]

2 Toxic Pollution from Military Bases

Communities around the world are at risk of PFAS pollution from military bases. In the U.S. alone, the Department of Defense says that at least 245 sites could be damaging drinking water for nearby people. In total, over 700 facilities are thought to have allowed PFAS to drain into the ground. More research is needed to understand the full extent, including how far groundwater contamination has spread.

The U.S. military is one of the worst offenders when it comes to forever chemicals. They often spray firefighting foam that is packed with PFAS during training drills or emergencies. Record levels of alkyl substances in groundwater are often recorded around these sites.^[9]

1 Scientists Have Found Ways to Reduce Forever Chemicals in the Body

Given the major health threat that forever chemicals pose, scientists have been hard at work trying to lower the levels of PFAS in human bodies. Luckily, they have found a few ways to remove alkyl substances from inside the body. In May 2025, researchers at Boston University found that eating plenty of fiber helps flush PFAS out. They noticed promising results in a study using mice and a small group of humans. They believe that the fibers form a sort of gel that stops cells in the gut from soaking up the toxic chemicals.

Months later, scientists at the University of Cambridge published a paper showing how microbes in the gut absorb forever chemicals from the body. In tests on mice, the tiny bugs soaked up as much as 75% of some PFAS from the gut. The team is now working to create a probiotic supplement that increases the number of helpful germs, which should help bring down PFAS levels.^[10]