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Forever is Forever: The War on PFAS

Samuel Solomon Sanders

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About the Writing

Welcome to the world of forever chemicals and the ongoing battle against PFAS. As we navigate through the widespread use of these substances in everyday items like non-stick pans and water-resistant fabrics, it becomes evident that awareness and action are crucial in combating the long-term effects of these harmful compounds. Understand the various health risks associated with PFAS exposure, from reproductive issues to increased cancer risks, and gain insight into the profound impact of these persistent pollutants on human health and the environment. So, sit back, relax, and let's unravel the complexities of PFAS and its implications on our well-being and longevity.

The Writing

Forever is Forever: The War on PFASSamuel Solomon Sanders
00:00 / 03:59

Samuel Solomon Sanders

Chemistry 10

Ms. Jamie Carbone

Thursday, April 18th, 2024


Forever is Forever: The War on PFAS


Teflon. For all of my life, my mother has waged an inner war against this common chemical, even as it remains an even more common necessity in our household. Specifically, our beloved nonstick pans that prevent our food from burning are coated in the stuff. Daily, the constant danger of Teflon in my food only aggravates my mother’s concern when washing the pans. But as I and millions of other families say, “There can’t be much danger to using it if it’s so commonly distributed, right?” Wrong. Teflon is a forever chemical, one of the many that fall under the broad umbrella of PFAS or expanded, per/poly-fluoroalkyl substance products. While the majority of these substances are not disposed to your observation, the medical ailments and cancer they cause over decades indeed are and should be treated with as much gravitas as would a parasite that lives in your body. Do not be misled by the esoteric scientific discussions of these chemicals’ effects on you; they will be in your body longer than you live.

But what exactly is so harmful about forever chemicals? Consider the various confirmed effects of PFAS, determined and verified by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency: 

  • Reproductive injuries such as decreased fertility in pregnant women.

  • Developmental and cognitive effects in children, along with increased behavioral variability.

  • Increased risk of dozens of cancers, including testicular, prostate, and kidney cancer.

  • Increased disposition to sickness.

  • Unpredictable hormone variation.

  • Weight gain and rise in cholesterol levels.


The insult to injury that PFAS products cause is hazardous to everyone who interacts with them- and that is almost everyone in the world. Indeed, Starting at 1–2 years old, you are at the highest risk of PFAS exposure in “baby textile products, consistent with findings from other textile category tests” [Syndney Evans, MPH, 2022]. These health risk echelons are then ranked in descending order through adults, toddlers, adolescents, and late teenagers [Juliane B. Brown, 2020]. Even more dangerous, thousands of everyday products in your household most likely contain trace amounts of forever chemicals. Cleaning products, water-resistant fabrics, grease-resistant paper, nonstick cookware, shampoo, dental floss, nail polish, eye makeup, carpets, upholstery, and a myriad of other products- many of which are digested or topically applied -contain this cancerous PFAS in incredible quantities. Even more concerning than the 12,000 chemicals found in market carpets and their high concentration per person is the distribution of PFAS across the general population. More than 97% of the U.S. population has PFAS in their bodies, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, almost all of which chemicals will outlive the people who ingested them. See the below map for the general distribution of PFAS across the United States.


Map of PFAS Contamination -Samuel Solomon Sanders, The Wave 2024

PFAS poses an immense risk not only to the health of every person on earth but to that of every living being. Preventing the production and spread of forever chemicals is crucial to increasing human longevity. Without action, noxious chemicals will sit in our bodies and soil for thousands of years without decomposing, even while industries create new PFAS products. To learn more about how to stop the creation and spread of per/poly-fluoroalkyl substances, you can take steps recommended by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to improve both your health and the safety of future generations.






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