The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) discovered the potentially harmful effects of these chemicals in the early 2000s. PFAS have been linked to:
- Developmental deficiencies in children
- Multiple types of cancer
- Thyroid disruption
- Immune system suppression
- Reproductive issues
These substances are bioaccumulative, meaning they build up in your system throughout your life — with no way for your body to flush them out.
Because researchers discovered the harm only recently, many people failed to dispose of PFAS-containing products properly. Though these chemicals are no longer commonly used in manufacturing, products containing them are now in landfills, where they can access our water supply. PFAS break down extremely slowly — they remain an active threat decades after disposal.
