Without a doubt, modern consumerism is driven by the desire for convenience. Whether it is clothing, toiletries, or home decor, consumers want products to be easily accessible and relatively low-maintenance to own. Eliminating the need for product maintenance to accommodate fast-paced lifestyles is at the heart of integrating Polyfluoroalkyl Substances, or PFAS, into mass production. PFAS are chemicals formulated to make items resistant to foreign substances, such as water and oil, and maintain heat resistance.
As highlighted by Goethe University, there are over 4,700 variants of PFAS used in modern industries; this wide array of chemicals leads to severe environmental contamination in soils and water sources. Recent medical research recognized by Goethe University concludes that PFAS contribute to increased risks of cancer, disruptions to the endocrine system, and weakened immunity.
Furthermore, the placement of large industrial warehouses in or near vulnerable communities directly correlates with the disproportionate exposure to PFAS. As highlighted by The New York Times and Reuters, the 3M company has received multiple subpoenas for polluting waters near its facilities with PFAS. Major plants receiving violations were located in Kentucky and New Jersey. Upon further investigation, the cities in which these plants operate – Flemington, New Jersey, and Cynthiana, Kentucky – have poverty rates above the national average at 11.5% and 26%, respectively.
For example, community members in Baltimore, Maryland, a city with an almost 20% poverty rate, established the ICARE project to restore the water quality in sources polluted by PFAS. Affiliates to the project's efforts successfully removed excess trash that was polluting communal waterways; the collected trash consisted primarily of plastics with high PFAS content.