Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are a group of anthropogenic chemicals that have been of increasing concern to the public.
Commonly known as “forever chemicals,” these compounds resist biodegradation and persist in the environment. These characteristics have resulted in the dispersal of these compounds across the globe with detectable levels having been found in surface and ground waters, including remote islands and the Arctic. The ubiquity of these compounds in the environment has resulted in the contamination of food and water, which has led to the ingestion and bioaccumulation of these chemicals in the human body. Alarmingly, PFASs have been detected at the ng/ml range in the blood serum of nearly every person tested for these compounds in the U.S.