Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
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PFAS stand for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. They are a group man-made chemicals that are composed of a carbon backbone that is fluorinated, and in some cases joined to a phosphate, carboxylate, or sulfonate group.
PFAS were first discovered by Roy J. Plunkett in 1938 at DuPont Laboratories by accident when an experiment went wrong! Instead of finding gas in a canister, what Plunkett found was a waxy substance, later found to be polytetrafluoroethylene.
PFAS are used extensively across a number of different industries, including the food packaging, pharmaceutical, clothing, and construction. Waterproof clothes, non-stick cookware, firefighting foams, roofing materials, and popcorn packaging are just some of the products that use PFAS.
There are a few routes of PFAS exposure; inhalation, absorption through the skin, and ingestion. The dietary pathway is the most common. Research has shown that PFAS can enter food in a number of ways. Contaminated water is a common source, which can be used in agriculture for watering crops or as drinking water for both humans and animals. PFAS-contaminated dust can be inhaled and increase a person's exposure to PFAS. PFAS can also be passed from mothers to infants through the placenta and through breast milk.