You’ve probably heard the term “forever chemicals” in the news, on social media, or increasingly on product labels.
But what exactly are they?
“Forever chemicals” is a common name for a large group of synthetic chemicals called PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. They have been used for decades because they can resist water, oil, grease, stains, and heat.
The problem is that many PFAS are extremely persistent. Some can remain in the environment for years, and certain types can accumulate in the human body over time.
That doesn’t mean you need to panic about every product you own. PFAS exposure varies considerably depending on where you live, what you consume, your occupation, and other factors.
Instead, it’s worth understanding what PFAS are, where exposure can happen, what researchers know about potential health effects, and what practical steps can help reduce unnecessary exposure.
Forever chemicals are a group of thousands of synthetic chemicals known as PFAS.
PFAS have been used in industrial and consumer products since the 1940s because of their unusual ability to resist water, oil, grease, stains, and heat. They have been used in products ranging from water-resistant clothing and stain-resistant fabrics to certain cosmetics, firefighting foams, and food-contact materials.
The term “forever chemicals” comes from their persistence.
Many PFAS do not break down easily in the environment. Some can also remain in the body for extended periods, depending on the specific chemical and the amount and duration of exposure.
Importantly, PFAS are not one single chemical. They are a large family of different compounds, and scientists continue to study how individual PFAS behave and how different levels of exposure may affect health.
The name sounds dramatic, but it refers primarily to how persistent many PFAS are.
PFAS contain strong carbon-fluorine bonds, which contribute to their resistance to heat, water, oil, and chemical breakdown. As a result, some PFAS can persist in soil, water, and other parts of the environment for very long periods.
Some PFAS can also accumulate in people and animals.
That persistence is one reason PFAS have become an environmental and public-health concern.
However, “forever” does not mean that an individual molecule literally stays in your body forever. Different PFAS leave the body at different rates, and some can be eliminated over time through processes such as urine and other forms of excretion.
PFAS have been used in a surprisingly wide range of products and industrial applications.
Potential sources include:
Not every product in these categories contains PFAS, and regulations and manufacturing practices have changed over time.
For example, the FDA has reported that PFAS-containing grease-proofing substances used for certain paper and paperboard food packaging are no longer being sold in the U.S., following actions that began in 2024
PFAS can also enter the environment through industrial use and contaminated sites, eventually making their way into soil, groundwater, surface water, and potentially drinking water.
PFAS exposure can happen through several routes.
One of the most important potential sources is contaminated drinking water, particularly in communities near certain industrial facilities, military installations, airports, or other sites where PFAS have been used.
Food can also contribute to exposure. PFAS may be present in certain foods because of environmental contamination, processing, packaging, or contaminated water used during production.
Other possible sources include contaminated soil or dust and certain consumer products.
The amount of exposure can vary significantly from one person to another. Where you live, what you eat and drink, your occupation, and the products you regularly use can all influence your exposure. This is one reason it’s difficult to make blanket statements about how much PFAS any particular person is exposed to.
This is where the conversation needs some nuance.
Research has found associations between exposure to certain PFAS and several health outcomes, but PFAS are a large and diverse group of chemicals, and the evidence is not identical for every compound.
According to the CDC’s Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), studies have associated exposure to certain PFAS with changes in cholesterol levels, reduced antibody response to some vaccines, changes in liver enzymes, pregnancy-related hypertension and preeclampsia, small decreases in birth weight, and certain cancers. That does not mean that exposure to PFAS automatically causes these conditions.
Scientists have to consider factors such as the specific PFAS involved, the amount of exposure, how often exposure occurs, how long it lasts, and individual differences.
Researchers are also still studying mixtures of different PFAS and newer compounds for which less human data is available.
So the most accurate takeaway is simple:
Some PFAS exposures have been associated with health concerns, but the risks depend on the specific chemical and the level and pattern of exposure.
PFAS have attracted particular interest because some research has investigated their potential effects on the endocrine and reproductive systems.
However, this is another area where it is important not to overstate the evidence.
PFAS research is ongoing, and the presence of PFAS in your body does not tell you that your hormones are “imbalanced” or that a specific health problem is caused by PFAS.
If you have symptoms that concern you, it is better to discuss them with a healthcare professional than to assume PFAS are the cause.
For most people, completely eliminating PFAS exposure is probably unrealistic.
PFAS are widespread in the environment, and measurable amounts have been detected in people around the world.
The goal doesn’t need to be perfection.
Instead, you can focus on reducing unnecessary exposure where practical, particularly when you know there is a specific source in your environment.
How to Reduce Your Exposure to PFAS
If you live in an area with known PFAS contamination, drinking water can be an important source of exposure.
Check your local water-quality information or contact your water provider to find out whether PFAS have been detected in your water supply.
For people using private wells, local testing may be particularly important in areas where PFAS contamination is known or suspected.
PFAS have been used in certain nonstick cookware applications, but the presence of a PFAS-based material does not mean that normal use automatically creates a dangerous level of exposure.
The FDA notes that certain polymerized PFAS used in nonstick cookware are tightly bound in the coating and have negligible potential to migrate into food under expected conditions. If you want to minimize PFAS use in your kitchen anyway, you can choose alternatives such as stainless steel, cast iron, or other cookware made without intentionally added PFAS.
PFAS have historically been used to make materials resistant to water and stains.
If avoiding PFAS is a priority for you, look for products that specifically disclose that they are made without intentionally added PFAS.
You don’t necessarily need to throw away everything you already own. Replacing products gradually as they wear out can be a more practical approach.
Food packaging has been one area of significant attention because certain PFAS have historically been used to make paper and cardboard resistant to grease.
The FDA has taken action to end the sale of PFAS-containing grease-proofing substances for these applications
Reducing reliance on heavily packaged foods can also be a reasonable way to simplify your overall diet, although you don’t need to become fearful of every packaged food.
Certain PFAS have been intentionally used in cosmetics, including some products designed to improve texture, shine, smoothness, or consistency.
If you want to avoid them, checking ingredient labels can help.
Some ingredients containing terms such as “perfluoro-” or “polyfluoro-” may indicate the presence of PFAS, although identifying every possible PFAS-related ingredient isn’t always straightforward.
The FDA continues to evaluate the available evidence surrounding PFAS in cosmetics, and significant data gaps remain for many compounds. [
This is particularly relevant if you care about the quality and transparency of the supplements you buy.
Supplements are not immune to environmental contaminants simply because they are marketed as “clean” or “natural.” Raw materials, manufacturing environments, packaging, water, and other parts of the supply chain can all influence product quality.
That’s why testing and manufacturing standards matter.
If a supplement company makes claims about purity or contaminant testing, look for specifics rather than relying only on words like “clean,” “natural,” or “premium.”
At Eabha Organics, this is part of the reason we believe transparency matters. A clean supplement should be about more than attractive marketing. It should start with understanding the ingredients, using meaningful doses, choosing quality manufacturing practices, and being honest about what a product can and cannot do.
Probably not in the sense of constantly worrying about every possible exposure.
PFAS are a legitimate environmental-health concern, but that doesn’t mean you need to live in fear of them.
Your actual exposure depends on many factors, and researchers are still learning about the health effects of different PFAS and mixtures of these chemicals.
Instead of trying to eliminate every possible source, focus on the exposures you can reasonably control.
If your drinking water has known PFAS contamination, that’s worth taking seriously. If you are choosing between two new products and one is clearly labeled as made without intentionally added PFAS, that’s a reasonable consideration.
But there is no need to turn everyday life into an endless search for invisible chemicals.
Forever chemicals are a large group of synthetic chemicals known as PFAS. They have been widely used because they resist water, grease, oil, stains, and heat, but many PFAS are highly persistent in the environment and some can remain in the human body for extended periods.
Research has linked exposure to certain PFAS with several potential health concerns, but the evidence varies by chemical, exposure level, and individual circumstances.
You don’t need to eliminate every possible source of PFAS exposure to make healthier choices.
Instead, focus on practical steps: understand your drinking water, choose products thoughtfully, reduce unnecessary exposure where possible, and look for transparency when purchasing products you use regularly.
When it comes to health, reducing unnecessary exposure is a reasonable goal. Fear and perfection don’t have to be.
“Forever chemicals” is a common name for a large group of synthetic chemicals called PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. They have been used for decades because they can resist water, oil, grease, stains, and heat.
Walk into a store or scroll through social media and you’ll find products with dozens of ingredients, complicated formulas, bright packaging, and promises that seem almost too good to be true. At Eabha Organics, we wanted to take a different approach.
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