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“PFAS” is an acronym for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, a family of thousands of widely used manmade chemicals that resist grease, oil, water and heat. PFAS has been used in firefighting foams, protective coatings and stain-resistant garments and carpets. PFAS are mobile and persistent; they bioaccumulate while resisting degradation in the environment (hence the nickname “forever chemicals.”). They’re also ubiquitous, present in personal care products like shampoo and dental floss. As a result, approximately 98-99% of people have PFAS in their bodies, and studies have shown negative health outcomes with low levels of chronic exposure to PFAS. Problematically, PFAS make their way into municipal water supplies and wastewater.
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