They never degrade, break down, or go away: Forever chemicals, or PFAS, increase cancer risks, undermine immune systems, decrease fertility and more. State governments, along with the federal government, must end their destructive proliferation.
Forever chemicals, which repel water, oil and grease, are applied to non-stick cookware and cosmetics, among other uses. But their long-term liabilities far outweigh their benefits — and the risks are growing. While federal legislators and regulators dither, Pennsylvania should take a leading role in reducing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, for not only people today, but also generations to come.
Other than treating the water supply, the only way to lower exposure to PFAS is to stop producing them. In 2021, Sens. Susan Collins, R.-Maine, and Richard Blumenthal, D.-Conn., introduced the No PFAS in Cosmetics Act to cut off one of the leading ways forever chemicals get into circulation: cosmetics, where PFAS are rarely labeled. California has passed a ban of its own, and Washington state is considering one. A full ban in Pennsylvania should be on new Gov. Josh Shapiro’s bipartisan agenda.
