PFAS have been found in the bloodstreams of over 90% of the United States' population. Polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, are a category that encompasses thousands of different chemicals found in a wide variety of products. Exposure can come from contaminated drinking water, working in close proximity to PFAS. Research into the effects of these so-called forever chemicals is still ongoing, but the Environmental Protection Agency currently understands PFAS to have a number of harmful effects on human health, such as developmental delays in children, compromised immune systems, increased risk for certain cancers, and decreased fertility.
Despite the well-documented health concerns, PFAS continue to be widely used in everyday products and major industries due to their unique chemical properties, including resistance to heat, water, and oil. Common items containing PFAS include non-stick cookware, dental floss, fast-food wrappers, firefighting foam, waterproof cosmetics, and stain-resistant textiles. Their industrial applications span sectors like aerospace, automotive, and construction, where durability and performance are prioritized.
While the amount of PFAS in the average American's blood has decreased since it was first measured in the 1990s, daily exposure to these dangerous chemicals is still an everyday reality. To prevent further harm and raise awareness about this growing environmental crisis, young people have both the power and the responsibility to step up as informed, engaged activists.
In Baltimore, a group of UMBC students teamed up with community members to physically measure PFAS levels in the Inner Harbor in an inspiring example of youth-driven scientific activism in environmental justice. So far, students have installed innovative passive sampling devices around the harbor to track concentrations of the chemicals in the water. Among them were graduate and undergraduate students working through UMBC's ICARE program, which bridges academic research and community engagement.
Their data collection was complemented by collaboration with local nonprofit Blue Water Baltimore and the US Geological Survey, emphasizing the power of science-community partnership. The students' initiative demonstrates how young people can move beyond awareness-raising into direct contributions: collecting empirical evidence, engaging with stakeholders, and laying groundwork for policy action.
In summary, the almost entirely unrestricted use of PFAS has led to ignorance from policymakers and unawareness from civilians. While some PFAS have already been banned due to their especially severe effects, they represent an exception, as thousands of other chemicals are still in unrestricted use today. Despite the manufactured unimportance of the forever chemical problem, young people are taking academic and scientific action to change how we interact with PFAS in the future.