Imagine if you signed a contract with zero payoffs and no way to cancel it. You would never accept, right? But with PFAS—per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, better known as “forever chemicals,” since they linger in the environment and can accumulate in the human body—that is the exact agreement you have already accepted. Not only have you signed a contract that affects you, but it also affects your children and future generations. This issue was not the result of an accident a couple of years ago, but rather of systemic failures that policymakers chose to turn a blind eye to.
To fix the mess they’ve created, policymakers need to implement stricter PFAS regulations that hold companies accountable and provide a starting point for implementing PFAS alternatives.
The presence of PFAS is not a new issue, as their initial production dates back to the 1950s. However, evidence of their environmental presence was only provided starting in the 1990s. This has led to PFAS concentrations in certain areas to compound heavily. According to this article from the National Library of Medicine (NLM), in certain parts of the US, PFAS concentrations in some water sources have reportedly reached 10 mg/L, particularly near manufacturing and firefighting training sites. This concentration is 2.5 million times the federal standard.
PFAS contamination poses a significant issue to the environment. Because of their persistence, PFAS remain in groundwater, soil, and waterways for decades, sometimes even centuries, after their initial release. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) reports that in aquatic ecosystems, PFAS accumulates in fish and other wildlife exposed to PFAS contamination. It has been noted that fish consumption and PFAS accumulation in humans have been linked to fish as a source of exposure. Furthermore, the WDNR notes that PFAS easily moves through some soil and can reach groundwater used by public or private wells.
The persistence of PFAS in the environment also has serious implications for human health. According to a different article from the NLM, exposure to PFAS has been linked to thyroid diseases, kidney disease, liver disease, certain cancers, and reproductive and developmental harm across children and adults. Due to the nature of PFAS being a “forever chemical,” repeated exposure can lead to increased risk of health complications over time.
Given time, this issue will spiral into a global crisis rivaling climate change. PFAS have already been linked with thyroid disease, kidney disease, reproductive, and developmental issues. It is a problem that not only affects us, but will continue to affect future generations.
If we don’t act now, we'll only kick the can further down the road, where the problem will compound until future generations are left with a mess they can’t solve. So, what could we do? Ideally, government and/or policymakers would enact laws tightening PFAS regulations, hold companies accountable for cleanup, and establish a baseline for transitioning to safer alternatives. However, in an era when laws are in a constant stalemate, it is up to us to speak up to achieve our desired outcome. Individuals can help by reaching out to and urging local or national policymakers to promote tighter regulations on PFAS, such as advocating for a switch from firefighting foam that contains PFAS to foam that doesn’t, and to hold the companies that brought about this mess accountable. Additionally, individuals can reduce their exposure to PFAS by avoiding/limiting the use of consumer products that contain PFAS, such as non-stick pans, fast-food wrappers, and take-out containers. Taking these steps today, no matter how small, is crucial in preventing a permanent chemical legacy.
The views expressed in this op-ed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the Saving the Sea Organization. This piece was written as part of the Emergent Fellows Program, our summer fellowship in environmental policy and advocacy.