Popular for their water and grease resistance, perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are used in countless everyday products, from cookware and cosmetics, to rain gear and cleaning supplies. They are sprayed on crops, added to food packaging, utilized in electronics, and much more. As a result, these substances — which have been linked to serious health impacts and have earned the nickname “forever chemicals” due to their persistence in the environment — are now widespread in our water, soil, and air.
Several states have begun to take action on the issue. But the road to PFAS regulation has proven challenging, including in the Golden State. Terra Verde host and Earth Island Journal managing editor Zoe Loftus-Farren speaks with Andria Ventura, legislative and policy director with Clean Water Action, and Bernadette Del Chiaro, senior vice president for California with the Environmental Working Group, about ongoing efforts to reign in our use of these toxic substances California.