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A. Daniel Jones, Professor of Biochemistry, Michigan State University

3M offers $10.3B settlement over PFAS contamination in water systems – now, how do you destroy a 'forever chemical'?

How long do chemicals really need to last? Andrew Brookes via Getty Images

PFAS chemicals seemed like a good idea at first. As Teflon, they made pots easier to clean starting in the 1940s. They made jackets waterproof and carpets stain-resistant. Food wrappers, firefighting foam, even makeup seemed better with perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances.

Then tests started detecting PFAS in people’s blood.

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