PFAS, PFOA, and PFOS Oh My!

Larry Walker Room, Rusk Hall

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of man-made chemicals that currently pose an adverse risk to human and environmental health. PFAS have been used and manufactured in the U.S. since the 1940s. They are found in an array of products including food products, commercial household products, workplace-related products, drinking water, and living organisms. The major issue concerning PFAS is that these chemicals do not break down quickly and accumulate over time. In lab experiments, PFAS have been found to cause low birth weights, effects on the immune system, cancer, and thyroid hormone disruption. Many PFAS have been or are being phased out, but are still produced and imported from international markets. This panel will talk about PFAS and some of its effects in the Southeast.