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In 1946, DuPont introduced Teflon to the world, changing millions of people’s lives – and polluting their bodies. Today, the family of compounds including Teflon, commonly called PFAS, is found not only in pots and pans but also in the blood of people around the world, including 99 percent of Americans. PFAS chemicals pollute water, do not break down, and remain in the environment and people for decades. Some scientists call them “forever chemicals."
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Hope Grosse and Joanne Stanton are lifelong residents of the Philadelphia suburbs. In 2014, they learned that their community's drinking water had been contaminated by toxic PFAS chemicals. Now, they are raising awareness of PFAS chemicals around the country and fighting to get them out of our environment.
We need your help to protect our water from toxic PFAS chemicals.
The number of U.S. communities confirmed to be contaminated with PFAS continues to grow at an alarming rate. As of August 2021, 2,854 locations in 50 states and two territories are known to be contaminated.
This map shows the locations of 41,828 industrial and municipal sites that are known to produce or use, are suspected of using, or are a suspected source of PFAS.
Nearly 700 U.S. military sites are known or likely to have discharged PFAS, typically from the use of PFAS-based firefighting foam,.
In 1946, DuPont introduced nonstick cookware coated with Teflon. Today the family of fluorinated chemicals that sprang from Teflon includes thousands of nonstick, stain-repellent and waterproof compounds called PFAS, short for per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances.
PFAS are used in a staggering array of consumer products and commercial applications. Decades of heavy use have resulted in contamination of water, soil and the blood of people and animals in the farthest corners of the world. PFAS are incredibly persistent, never breaking down in the environment and remaining in our bodies for years.
The Environmental Protection Agency was first alerted to the health hazards of PFAS in 1998 In the decades since, the agency has failed to set enforceable regulations on PFAS in drinking water, food, food packaging and a wide array of other everyday consumer goods.
As far back as the 1970s, studies conducted by the Department of Defense showed that the firefighting foam used on military bases and ships known as aqueous film-forming foam, or AFFF, that contain PFAS were toxic.
As far back as 1950, studies conducted by 3M showed that PFAS could build up in our blood. By the 1960s, animal studies conducted by 3M and DuPont revealed that PFAS chemicals could pose health risks. But the companies kept the studies secret from their employees and the public for decades.
As far back as the 1960s, animal studies showed the chemicals caused harm even months after exposure ended and industry studies showed they could migrate from paper and paperboard food packaging into food.
Tougher laws and regulations are essential, but you can also take steps to protect yourself and your family today. Learn how to reduce your exposure to PFAS chemicals in drinking water and consumer products.
