Opinion: Report: More people should be tested for potential exposure to ‘forever chemicals’
Nearly every American has been exposed at some point to a class of compounds known as perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS for short. These substances, sometimes referred to as “forever chemicals” because they persist in many environments — including the human body — are present in a huge array of consumer products, from food packaging to stain-resistant couches; are in firefighting foam and used in many manufacturing processes; and have contaminated the drinking water sources of millions of Americans in more than 2,800 U.S. communities.
Although researchers have known about the impact of these chemicals for years, there has been little guidance available for clinicians. A new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) aims to change that.
