For decades, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a group
of several thousand synthetic compounds, have been viewed as
"wonder chemicals" and their unique properties made them
valuable in a variety of applications - nonstick cookware,
waterproof coatings and stain-resistant fabrics, for example. In
industrial settings, PFAS have been incorporated into additives
used in the manufacturing of semiconductors, electronics, chemicals
and textiles. PFAS are also commonly found in firefighting foams
such as those used at manufacturing facilities and petroleum
refineries.
However, their resistance to degradation also allows PFAS to
bioaccumulate in the environment and the human body. As the growing
body of scientific research raises potential health concerns
associated with PFAS, states across the country are taking action.
Regulatory thresholds for various media (drinking water, soil and
groundwater) are now consistently being established in the parts
per trillion
