Research Is Advancing Removal of New Breed of ‘Forever Chemicals’ from Drinking Water
With new environmental regulations requiring the removal of industry-retired, long-chain chemicals known as perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from drinking water, there are concerns regarding a new breed of these "forever chemicals" called short-chain PFAS. PFAS are often called forever chemicals because they don’t break down in the environment, human bodies, and are resistant to water, grease, and heat.
Researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign are helping shift the focus to include mitigation of the short-chain PFAS, which the investigators say are just as persistent as their long-chain counterparts, more mobile, and harder to remove from the environment.