‘Forever chemicals’ used in lithium ion batteries threaten environment, research finds

The subclass of PFAS known as bis-FASI has been found in remote regions, suggesting that it moves easily through the atmosphere. Photograph: Brent Lewin/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Toxic PFAS “forever chemicals” used in lithium ion batteries essential to the clean energy transition present a dangerous source of chemical pollution that new research finds threatens the environment and human health as the nascent industry scales up.

The multipronged, peer-reviewed study zeroed in on a little-researched and unregulated subclass of PFAS called bis-FASI that are used in lithium ion batteries.