Have you seen the acronym PFAS recently? This topic has gained a lot of attention locally due to contamination found in the West Plains area of Spokane County. Like many other communities near airports and air bases that used specialized firefighting foam, high levels of per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) got into the groundwater. The subject can be a little confusing because many people aren’t familiar with what PFAS are. Here is a basic overview so the next time you see those letters they might make a little more sense.

Back in the 1930s, a scientist was working on a new form of refrigerant gas, when something unexpected happened. Instead of finding a gas, they found the most slippery substance they’d ever studied. It soon became known, especially in our kitchens, as Teflon^TM. This was the earliest PFAS known in the United States. It impacted much more than muffin tins. Aerospace, communications, electronics, architecture, and other industries made significant advances because of it.

One of the qualities that makes this family of chemicals so valuable is that it is resistant to heat, water, acid, and oil. PFAS soon became part of everything from stain-resistant clothes to firefighting foam. Unfortunately, the thing that made it valuable also made it a concern. If other substances can't break it down, will it break down naturally with time? PFAS are often called “forever chemicals” because we don’t know if they break down. Because of this, once they get into the water supply, the ground, or even the human body they don’t dissipate.

Since these chemicals have become so widely used, it has been almost impossible to avoid them in the U.S. We all likely have exposure and some level of PFAS in our bodies. The impact of PFAS on our bodies is still being studied. There are associations and probable links, but it takes a lot of time and research to make clear connections between an environmental factor and our health. Think of smoking. We know so much about the health risks of it now, but it took decades of research to have solid evidence. Many PFAS are being phased out of use. However, scientific research on the impact of these chemicals continues.