In 1938, chemist Roy J. Plunkett accidentally discovered a substance that would change the world forever. While experimenting with refrigerant gases, he noticed that a compound was turning into a white, waxy solid. It had the amazing properties of being resistant to heat and chemical degradation, and extremely slippery.
Today we know this chemical as Teflon, and we produce more than 200,000 tons of the substance each year. It’s used in everything from nonstick frying pans to medical catheters. While Teflon is undoubtedly useful, it is also the first of a group called perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), better known as permanent chemicals.
As soon as Teflon was invented, concerns arose about its potential effects on the environment and our bodies (although these days, frying pans are heat treated and it’s safe to use nonstick cookware). It is worth noting that (most likely) no harmful substances will be produced unless left on high heat for a long time. Today, the world finally understands how permanently dangerous chemicals are to our health and is tackling this problem head-on. In January, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) added nine permanent chemicals to its list of hazardous ingredients. And last month, the United States belatedly imposed its first-ever limits on PFAS levels in drinking water in an effort to reduce exposure to these ubiquitous chemicals. But what risks do they actually pose, and what should we do to remove them from our lives? Researchers are faced with a big question…
Source: www.newscientist.com
