forever chemical
noun
plural forever chemicals
: a toxic substance and especially a synthetic chemical (as of the per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances group) that persists and accumulates in the environment
—not used technically
Canadian researchers have discovered high levels of a "forever chemical", used in making toilet paper, in the bodies of endangered killer whales, sparking fears the toxic substance could further harm them.—
Leyland Ceccoin
Leyland CeccoinLandfills, military bases and firefighting training centers also are thought to be sources of forever chemical pollution.—Sammy Fretwell
—often used in pluralSammy FretwellPFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are colloquially known as "forever chemicals" because they are so difficult to break down.—Layne Cameron
Layne CameronForever chemicals are used as surface treatments to block water and stains. In fact, a 2022 report by Toxic-Free Future, an environmental health research and advocacy organization, found that nearly three-quarters of products labeled as water- or stain-resistant tested positive for them.—Hannah Norman
Hannah NormanPFAS, a group of manufactured chemicals commonly used since the 1940s, are called "forever chemicals" for a reason. Bacteria can't eat them; fire can't incinerate them; and water can't dilute them.—Amanda Morris
Amanda MorrisVan Zile said many people love a Wisconsin Friday fish fry, but many fish are found with high levels of forever chemicals, such as mercury, and that we're slowly poisoning ourselves.—Frank Vaisvilas
Frank VaisvilasExamples of forever chemical in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
So-called ‘forever chemical’ refers to a collection of more than 9,000 Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances called PFAS.
—Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 23 Jan. 2025
Zeldin had supported a bill to reduce harmful forever chemicals, called PFAS, that would have required the EPA to set limits on substances in drinking water.
—Michael Phillis, Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2025
The samples were then sent to an independent laboratory, which ran nearly 36,000 tests on 258 contaminants, including a slew of heavy metals, phthalates, perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (also known as PFAS or forever chemicals), and bisphenols BPA and BPS.
—Korin Miller, Health, 14 Jan. 2025
Attorney General Ken Paxton recently sued 3M and DuPont alleging that the companies did not provide truthful information about forever chemicals.
—Elizabeth Campbell, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Jan. 2025
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Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 23 Jan. 2025
Zeldin had supported a bill to reduce harmful forever chemicals, called PFAS, that would have required the EPA to set limits on substances in drinking water.
—Michael Phillis, Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2025
The samples were then sent to an independent laboratory, which ran nearly 36,000 tests on 258 contaminants, including a slew of heavy metals, phthalates, perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (also known as PFAS or forever chemicals), and bisphenols BPA and BPS.
—Korin Miller, Health, 14 Jan. 2025
Attorney General Ken Paxton recently sued 3M and DuPont alleging that the companies did not provide truthful information about forever chemicals.
—Elizabeth Campbell, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for forever chemical
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Cite this Entry
“Forever chemical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/forever%20chemical. Accessed 26 Jan. 2025.
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