Have you worn a waterproof garment recently or used a piece of non-stick cookware? Chances are that those items were made with the help of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as PFAS.
“PFAS compounds are wonderful at what they do, but they last forever and that’s the problem,” explains Johan Foster, an associate professor of chemical and biological engineering at the University of British Columbia. “They don’t break down in nature and they’re soluble in water, so they accumulate in the human body.”
These properties are what give PFAS the nickname of ‘forever chemicals’.
PFAS are favoured for their ability to resist water, heat, grease and oil. However, tiny amounts of PFAS can cause serious health issues, including hormonal imbalances, developmental delays and increased risks of cancer in humans.
The eradication solutions available, like heating PFAS-contaminated water to a high temperature, are expensive, consume a lot of energy and are impractical for large-scale use. There are also existing filtration systems that can trap PFAS but they don’t eliminate the substance.
“That’s not a long-term option,” Foster explains. “You’re just kicking the can down the road.”
