PFAS, or per- or polyfluoroalkyl substances, are ubiquitous in modern life. First produced at the end of World War II, these chemicals are in everything from furniture and cosmetics to food packaging, non-stick pans and clothing.
PFAS, or per- or polyfluoroalkyl substances, are ubiquitous in modern life. First produced at the end of World War II, these chemicals are in everything from furniture and cosmetics to food packaging, non-stick pans and clothing. They have also infiltrated our water, soil, and food, making PFAS a major concern for human and ecological health.
Beginning in the early 2000s, some of the most common and well-studied PFAS were phased out through a combination of industry shifts and international regulations. A new study from Harvard has found that since that phaseout, North Atlantic pilot whales have more than 60% lower concentrations of these chemicals in their bodies.
The study, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, overcomes a long-standing challenge in the detection and measurement of PFAS concentrations. While older, so-called legacy PFAS are well understood and easy to detect, newer generations of chemicals are harder to pinpoint.
Read more at: Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences
North Atlantic pilot whales. (Photo Credit: Bjarni Mikkelsen)
