Women with higher levels of so-called “forever chemicals” in their blood have a 40% lower chance of becoming pregnant within a year of trying to conceive, according to the first known study on the effect of PFAS on female fertility. More:

• ‘Forever chemicals’ linked to infertility in women, study shows  –  The Guardian

• Revealed: scale of ‘forever chemical’ pollution across UK and Europe  –  The Guardian

• Study links in utero ‘forever chemical’ exposure to low sperm count and mobility  –  The Guardian
• The effects of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances on female fertility: A systematic review and meta-analysis (Research abstract)
• Exposure to perfluoroalkyl substances and women's fertility outcomes in a Singaporean population-based preconception cohort (Research abstract)
• ‘Forever chemicals’ detected in all umbilical cord blood in 40 studies  –  The Guardian

• Biden EPA Praised for 'Historic Progress' But Pressured to Ban Forever Chemicals  –  Common dreams
• ECHA publishes PFAS restriction proposal  –  ECHA

• Canada: scientists discover new method to break down toxic ‘forever chemicals’  –  The Guardian
• Electrochemical degradation of PFOA and its common alternatives: Assessment of key parameters, roles of active species, and transformation pathway (Research abstract)

In response to a 2017 request by the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA), the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO), produced a report on the adverse impacts of pesticides and fertilizers and what can be done to minimize them. More:

• UN Report Details Actions to Minimize Negative Impacts of Pesticides  –  IISD
• Synthesis Report on the Environmental and Health Impacts of Pesticides and Fertilizers and Ways to Minimize Them: Envisioning a Chemical-safe World (download PDF) (Report)  –  UNEP

Some furniture fabrics are coated with questionable PFAS compounds – often called 'forever chemicals' – to repel stains, but a new study suggests they may not even do the job they're supposed to. More:

• 'Forever Chemicals' Used in Furniture May Not Help Fabrics Resist Stains  –  U.S. News
• Evaluating the Performance of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance Finishes on Upholstery Fabrics (download PDF) (Research article)

• Per- and Polyfluorinated Substances (PFAS) Factsheet  –  US CDC

Chemicals that were banned after they punched a hole in Earth’s ozone layer are still building up at an alarming rate in our atmosphere, according to research published today in the journal Nature Geoscience. The chemicals were once widely used in air conditioning and refrigeration but were supposed to be phased out globally by 2010. More:

• Chemicals banned from air conditioners and refrigerators are making a comeback — and scientists don’t know why  –  The Verge

• Ozone-Depleting Substances  –  US EPA
• Earth’s ozone layer is on the mend  –  The Verge
• Global increase of ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbons from 2010 to 2020 (download PDF) (Research article)

• Frequently asked questions relating to the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol (download PDF)  –  UNEP
• What to expect from the EPA’s new rules affecting air conditioners and refrigerators  –  The Verge

You may not be able to see PFAS molecules around you, but they are ubiquitous: in our food, leaching into our water supplies, and in our blood. The class of water-resistant compounds used to make raincoats waterproof and nonstick pans stick-proof are also known as "forever chemicals," so named because they do not naturally break down in the environment (or in our bloodstream). More:

• Your microwave popcorn bags are full of harmful "forever chemicals"  –  Salon
• Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Canadian Fast Food Packaging (Research article)

• Stray pollutants in fast food and microwave popcorn could be affecting pregnancies  –  Salon
• Male fetuses, bathed in forever chemicals, have lower sperm counts as adults: study  –  Salon
• "Forever chemicals" linked to high blood pressure, study finds  –  Salon
• "Forever chemicals" in non-stick pans are in your body right now — and may be affecting your liver  –  Salon

As plastic littering in the environment is of great concern, the effects of littered biobased biodegradable plastics in aquatic habitats may be amplified by their capacity to interact with mercury (Hg). This study sought to understand better how ultraviolet (UV) ageing affects biobased polymers in water, and whether the amount of mercury that can attach to these polymers increases as a result. More:

• Biobased biodegradable polymers may amplify absorption of mercury from the marine environment  –  European Commission
• Influence of UV degradation of bioplastics on the amplification of mercury bioavailability in aquatic environments (Research article)

Sperm quality appears to be declining around the world but is a little discussed cause of infertility. Now scientists are narrowing in on what might be behind the problem. More:

• How pollution is causing a male fertility crisis  –  BBC

• The chemicals that linger for decades in your blood  –  BBC Future
• Maternal Exposure to Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) and Male Reproductive Function in Young Adulthood: Combined Exposure to Seven PFAS (download PDF) (Research article) 

• Decrease in Anogenital Distance among Male Infants with Prenatal Phthalate Exposure (download PDF) (Research article) 
• Independent and combined effects of diethylhexyl phthalate and polychlorinated biphenyl 153 on sperm quality in the human and dog (download PDF) (Research article)
• Bisphenol A: an emerging threat to female fertility (download PDF) (Research article)

• Impact of environmental factors on human semen quality and male fertility: a narrative review (download PDF) (Research article) 
• Effects of maternal inhalation of carbon black nanoparticles on reproductive and fertility parameters in a four-generation study of male mice (download PFD) (Research article)
• New Research Finds Air Pollution Reduces Sperm Counts through Brain Inflammation  –  University of Maryland

Aside from being marketed as “good for the environment,” each has been found to carry high levels of toxic, long-lived chemicals called PFAS — or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances — according to the first study of its kind in Canada. More:

• High levels of toxic ‘forever chemicals’ found in so-called ‘green’ food packaging used across Canada, says a new study  –  The Star

• Breaking down the Forever Chemicals –What are PFAS?  –  Clean Water Action
• Fluorinated Additives, Disposable Food Containers, and Contaminated Food (download PDF) (Factsheet)  –  CEH

• Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Canadian Fast Food Packaging (Research article) (download PDF)
• PFAS in Food Packaging- A Hot, Greasy Exposure (download PDF) (Research article)
• Plastic containers can contain PFAS — and it’s getting into food  –  Wiley Analytical Science
• Plastic containers can contain PFAS -- and it's getting into food  –  ScienceDaily
• Directly Fluorinated Containers as a Source of Perfluoroalkyl Carboxylic Acids  (Research abstract)

• Individual and mixture associations of perfluoroalkyl substances on liver function biomarkers in the Canadian Health Measures Survey (download PDF) (Research article)
• The association between blood PFAS concentrations and clinical biochemical measures of organ function and metabolism in participants of the Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) (download PDF) (Research article)
• Do perfluoroalkyl substances affect metabolic function and plasma lipids?—Analysis of the 2007–2009, Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) Cycle 1 (Research abstract)
• Comparative analysis of the toxicological databases for 6:2 fluorotelomer alcohol (6:2 FTOH) and perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA) (Research abstract)

• ECHA publishes PFAS restriction proposal  –  ECHA
• Canada Catching Up on Regulation of PFAS Substances  –  McMillan
• Federal government failing to protect us from persistent chemical contamination  –  The Star

• PFAS in food: EFSA assesses risks and sets tolerable intake  –  EFSA
• EPA sets ‘groundbreaking’ limits on toxic ‘forever chemicals’ in drinking water  –  The Guardian

Residents of a small town in Belgium are experiencing a living nightmare, as they deal with the knowledge that the land around them is contaminated with so-called "forever chemicals", otherwise known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs). More:

• Residents of Belgian town living through nightmare of 'forever chemical' pollution  –  EuroNews
• Agreement Reached Between the Flemish Government and 3M Belgium to Support the People of Flanders  –  3M

• Exposed: 17,000 European sites contaminated by forever chemicals. Where are the worst spots?  –  EuroNews
• Revealed: The massive contamination of Europe by PFAS 'forever chemicals'  –  Le Monde

University of British Columbia researchers develop silica-based material with ability to absorb wider range of harmful chemicals. More:

• Canada: scientists discover new method to break down toxic ‘forever chemicals’  –  The Guardian

• Electrochemical degradation of PFOA and its common alternatives: Assessment of key parameters, roles of active species, and transformation pathway (Research abstract)

• High levels of ‘forever chemical’ found in endangered orcas in Canada  –  The Guardian

Through an advocacy campaign from environmental NGO ChemSec, over a hundred consumer brands worth more than €130 billion strongly support a comprehensive ban on these harmful chemicals. Many companies are taking a stand against PFAS chemicals as the EU invites the public to give its opinions on a proposed ban on these harmful chemicals. More:

• Brands worth more than €130 billion want the EU to ban PFAS chemicals  –  ChemSec

• Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)  –  European Chemical Agency

• Investors pressure top firms to halt production of toxic ‘forever chemicals’  –  The Guardian
• The PFAS Movement  –  ChemSec
• The upcoming PFAS ban is a potential game changer  –  ChemSec

Potentially toxic chemicals found in everyday products, including fast-food wrappers, makeup and carpeting, are altering hormonal and metabolic pathways needed for human growth and development, according to a new study. More:

• Child growth and development hampered by PFAS in blood, study says  –  CNN

• Per- and Polyfluorinated Substances (PFAS) Factsheet  –  US CDC
• PFAS in the U.S. Population  –  US ATSDR

• Makeup may contain potentially toxic chemicals called PFAS, study finds  –  CNN
• Fluorinated Compounds in North American Cosmetics (Research article)

• Doctors should test levels of PFAS in people at high risk, report says  –  CNN
• Metabolic Signatures of Youth Exposure to Mixtures of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances: A Multi-Cohort Study (Research article)
• Guidance on PFAS Exposure, Testing, and Clinical Follow-Up (download PDF) (Guidance document) 

• How to Reduce Your Exposure to PFAS – PFAS Exchange  –  Silent Spring Institute
• EWG Tap Water Database  –  EWG
• Drinking Water Treatment Units - Health Effects  –  NSF International
• PFASs and alternatives in food packaging (paper and paperboard): Report on the commercial availability and current uses (download PDF) (Report)  –  OECD
• Your guide to safer personal care products  –  EWG

Doctors still do not understand why Parkinson’s occurs. However, the disease has been linked to low levels of dopamine and norepinephrine in the body. Additionally, people with certain risk factors, such as age and past traumatic brain injury, are more likely to develop the condition. More:

• Parkinson's: Could a common cleaning chemical cause the disease?  –  Medical News Today
• Trichloroethylene- An Invisible Cause of Parkinson’s Disease  –  IOS Press
• Risk Evaluation for Trichloroethylene (download PDF)  –  US EPA

Known colloquially as “forever chemicals,” PFAS — short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances — are a large group of chemicals that make certain products nonstick or stain resistant. Research indicates that these chemicals can be dangerous. Exposure to PFAS is linked to cancers, weakened immune systems among children, weight gain, and a wide range of other health problems. More:

• PFAS, the “forever chemicals,” explained by a chemist  –  Vox
• 3M Knew About the Harms of PFOA and PFOS  –  The Intercept

• Learn about PFAS  –  US ATSDR
• These toxic chemicals are everywhere — even in your body. And they won’t ever go away.  –  The Washington Post

• Some Bottled Water Brands Have Concerning PFAS Levels, Massachusetts Regulator Warns  –  Consumer Reports
• Reducing chemical exposure on campus, one compostable plate at a time  –  Harvard School of Engineering
• Bill to ban ‘forever chemicals’ from food packaging would eliminate major source of exposure  –  EWG

• Health risks of widely used chemicals may be underestimated  –  Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
• Toxicological Profile for Perfluoroalkyls  –  US ATSDR
• PFAS Exposure and Risk of Cancer  –  US NCI

• Study: PFAS or “Forever Chemicals” Linked With Increased Risk of Diabetes in Midlife Women  –  AJMC
• PFAS Chemicals Harm the Immune System, Decrease Response to Vaccines, New EWG Review Finds  –  EWG
• Perfluoroalkyl substances exposure and immunity, allergic response, infection, and asthma in children: review of epidemiologic studies (download PDF) (Research article)
• Perfluoroalkyl substances and changes in body weight and resting metabolic rate in response to weight-loss diets: A prospective study (download PDF) (Research article)

• Reverse Osmosis  –  U.S. FDA
• Assessing the Effectiveness of Point-of-Use Residential Drinking Water Filters for Perfluoroalkyl Substances (PFASs) (Research article)
• Low-temperature mineralization of perfluorocarboxylic acids (Research abstract)

When people stand up to industry the battle often resembles a David and Goliath fight. Under current EU rules, people cannot claim compensation for damages to their health that result from illegal pollution. As a result, illnesses caused by pollution, such as cancer and heart disease, and even premature death are going unaddressed. But the EU has an opportunity to ensure people’s rights against illegal pollution. More:

• A David and Goliath fight People’s right to compensation against illegal pollution  –  META

• The struggle to survive industry  –  META
• EU Proposals for water are not yet crystal clear  –  META
• Real pesticide action: Our moment to ally politics, people and nature  –  META
• This Valentine’s Day, love is not in the air  –  META

They’re known as “forever” chemicals because they do not break down thanks to strong carbon-fluorine bonds, making it easy for these chemicals to linger in the environment and contaminate drinking water. More:

• What Are Forever Chemicals? Cancer-Causing Chemicals In Water May Be Limited By EPA—Here’s Where Else They Can Be Found  –  Forbes

• PFAS: The Forever Chemicals  –  Clean Water Action
• Learn about PFAS  –  US ATSDR

• 'Forever chemicals' found in animals around the world  –  NBC News

• PFAS in the U.S. Population  –  US ATSDR
• Our Current Understanding of the Human Health and Environmental Risks of PFAS  –  US EPA

• PFAS are in face masks. Should you be concerned?  –  E&E News
• Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Facemasks Potential Source of Human Exposure to PFAS with Implications for Disposal to Landfills (download PDF) (Research article)

• What are the health effects of PFAS?  –  US ATSDR
• EPA: ‘Forever chemicals’ pose risk even at very low levels  –  AP News
• Higher levels of PFAS exposure may increase chance of Covid, studies say  –  The Guardian
• Severity of COVID-19 at elevated exposure to perfluorinated alkylates (download PDF (Research article) 

• EPA to limit toxic ‘forever chemicals’ in drinking water  –  AP News
• FACT SHEET: Biden-Harris Administration Combatting PFAS Pollution to Safeguard Clean Drinking Water for All Americans  –  The White House
• Maine bans toxic ‘forever chemicals’ under groundbreaking new law  –  The Guardian
• Board adopts PFAS standards for drinking, surface waters  –  AP News

• 3M Will Discontinue Use Of Hazardous PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’ By 2025  –  Forbes

Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances or PFAS are a family of thousands of man-made chemicals that do not break down easily in the environment. A number of PFAS have been linked to serious health problems, including cancer, fertility issues, high cholesterol, hormone disruption, liver damage, obesity and thyroid disease. More:

• PFAS Contamination in the U.S. (Interactive Map)  –  EWG
• EWG Tap Water Database  –  EWG
• How to reduce PFAS in your drinking water, according to experts  –  CNN

• Legacy and alternative per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in the U.S. general population: Paired serum-urine data from the 2013–2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (Research article)
• Guidance on PFAS Exposure, Testing, and Clinical Follow-Up (download PDF Guidance)  –  The National Academies Press

• Our Current Understanding of the Human Health and Environmental Risks of PFAS  –  US EPA

All toilet paper from across the globe checked for toxic PFAS “forever chemicals” contained the compounds, and the waste flushed down toilets and sent to sewage treatment plants probably creates a significant source of water pollution, new research has found. More:

• Toxic ‘forever chemicals’ found in toilet paper around the world  –  The Guardian

• New study reveals UF scientists found PFAS ‘forever chemicals’ in toilet paper, wastewater  –  WSVN 7News
• Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Toilet Paper and the Impact on Wastewater Systems (Research abstract)

• Environmental Exposure to 6:2 Polyfluoroalkyl Phosphate Diester and Impaired Testicular Function in Men (Research abstract)

A report on a possible link between a rare brain cancer that killed six professional US baseball players and toxic chemicals in artificial turf is raising a new round of questions over whether synthetic sports fields pose a health threat to athletes and others who use them. More:

• Artificial turf potentially linked to cancer deaths of six Phillies ball players – report  –  The Guardian

• Toxic chemicals are found in blades of artificial turf  –  The Boston Globe
• July 2019 Report: Tire Crumb Rubber Characterization  –  US EPA
• More games or more grass fields? Turf wars play out across Massachusetts  –  GBH

• Boston bans artificial turf in parks due to toxic ‘forever chemicals’  –  The Guardian
• Millbrae enacting temporary ban on new artificial turf  –  The Daily Journal
• RTM proactively bans crumb rubber artificial turf  –  CT Insider

• Impairment of human dopaminergic neurons at different developmental stages by perfluoro-octanoic acid (PFOA) and differential human brain areas accumulation of perfluoroalkyl chemicals (download PDF) (Research article)
• Use of glioma to assess the distribution patterns of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances in human brain (Research abstract)

In-depth research conducted by the Forever Pollution Project in collaboration with Le Monde and The Guardian has revealed that a massive 17,000 sites in Europe and the UK are plagued by dangerous levels of forever chemicals. More:

• Study reveals Europe's dangerous 'forever chemical hotspots'  –  Thred

• Revealed: The massive contamination of Europe by PFAS 'forever chemicals'  –  Le Monde

• Will 'forever chemicals' hinder human reproductive ability?  –  Thred