PFAS

PFAS, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a family of thousands of synthetic chemicals built on carbon-fluorine bonds, the strongest single bond in organic chemistry. That bond makes them extremely persistent, earning the label forever chemicals. They are used in firefighting foams, water-repellent coatings, and food packaging, and reach the sea through wastewater, runoff, and atmospheric transport. Unlike most lipophilic POPs, many PFAS bind to proteins and accumulate in blood and liver rather than fat. PFOS was listed under the Stockholm Convention in 2009 and PFOA in 2019, with PFHxS added in 2022.