PFAS are a group of man-made chemicals that include PFOA, PFOX, GenX, and many other chemicals. PFAS have been manufactured and used in a variety of industries around the globe, including in the United States since the 1940s.
PFAS have been used for decades in products like food packaging, carpets, non-stick products, other household items, medical supplies, and firefighting foam due to their ability to resist heat, oil, stains, grease, and water. PFOS and PFOA have been the most extensively produced and studied of these chemicals. Both chemicals are very persistent in the environment and the human body meaning they do not break down and they can accumulate over time. Research is ongoing on how this class of chemicals affects people’s health.