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Grease-resistant food packaging, sleeping bags, and cleaning supplies are just a few products in the long list of things that make our day-to-day lives easier. But at what cost? PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) is a group of synthetic chemicals that are crucial in providing water, stain, and grease resistance to many consumer products. Yet they can also be dangerous to humans, and can serve as the basis for a product liability lawsuit if you experience severe harm.
PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals” were first discovered in the 1930s when Dupont introduced “Teflon,” and 3M introduced “Scotchgard”. They were different from other chemicals because of their never-before-seen durability and resistance to breakdown. They were also quickly characterized as dangerous for people, yet very difficult to avoid. PFAS exist almost everywhere and can be found in our homes, offices, public places, and transportation.
PFAS can also cause severe health problems, including:
Drinking Water: According to the Environmental Working Group and Northeastern University joint research, PFAS exists in water systems in every state in the U.S. Contamination comes from PFAS being dumped into rivers and lakes, leaking into groundwater from landfills, or being released into the air when products containing PFAS are burned.
Food: PFAS can enter food through various channels, such as packaging materials like pizza boxes, processing equipment, or crops irrigated with PFAS-contaminated water.
Clothing: PFAs are used in almost all clothing, shoes, and accessories.
Workplaces: PFAS can be found in many workplaces, but people working in industries like electronics manufacturing, oil recovery, or paper production are especially exposed to it through the production process.
Household supplies: Items such as nonstick cookware, furniture polishes, waxes, paints, and cleaning agents often contain PFAS.
Firefighting Foam: Firefighters at airports and military bases often use aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) to put out fires, but it usually contains PFAS. Many local fire departments have stopped using these foams, but the military still uses them for emergencies while working on finding PFAS-free options.
PFAS is all around us but there are certain situations where it can be ingested and cause serious harm, including various cancers. Contact our experienced Personal Injury team at Jan Dils, Attorneys at Law for a free consultation if you have experienced a health problem because of exposure to PFAS.
To Schedule an Appointment, Call Us Toll Free at 1.877.873.8208 or Email Us for a Prompt Response.
Jan Dils, Attorneys at Law