PFAS (short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are toxic chemicals used to make everyday items water, oil, and heat-resistant. Found in products like nonstick pans, mascara, food wrappers, and even school uniforms, these "forever chemicals" do not break down naturally and have been detected in the blood of nearly all Americans.
Research shows that PFAS contamination is widespread in the U.S., but not equally distributed. According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), over 2,800 communities across the country have documented PFAS in their water systems. Notably, many of the worst-hit areas are low-income, rural, or communities of color.
In 2025, 3M agreed to pay up to $450 million to the state of New Jersey for PFAS contamination in drinking water. But even large settlements reveal the limits of the current legal approach to PFAS. Settlements often come with no public admission of wrongdoing and hence rarely result in structural changes.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) only recently proposed enforceable limits for certain PFAS in drinking water. Meanwhile, the FDA has been slow to ban PFAS in food packaging.