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sustaineda.org
The Accidental Invasion of Forever Chemicals
It was hailed as one of the most groundbreaking inventions of the 20th century—praised for its convenience, toughness, and invisible utility—but it has turned out to be one of the greatest environmental health threats of our time.
It started as an accident in a DuPont lab. Today, it's in your frying pan, your raincoat, your makeup—and most alarmingly, your bloodstream. PFAS, dubbed "forever chemicals," have quietly infiltrated nearly every corner of modern life and now, science is uncovering just how deeply they’re affecting our health and planet. This issue dives into the origins of PFAS, their insidious journey from innovation to contamination, the toll on human biology, and the growing movement to find other alternatives.
The story of PFAS is not just about chemistry. It's about accountability, justice, and what we do next.
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The accidental discovery that changed the world,
and our bodies
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It was celebrated as a miracle material—slippery, indestructible, and invisible. But what began as a lab accident at DuPont has quietly turned into one of the most pervasive environmental threats of our time. The same chemical that made eggs slide off your pan is now showing up in your blood. Here’s how it all began.
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In the late 1930s, the race to dominate the refrigeration market was heating up, and DuPont Chemical Company wanted in. A young chemist, named Roy Plunkett was tasked with developing a new refrigerant that could rival Freon. Plunket and his assistant, Jack Rebok, began experimenting with fluorine—a volatile and highly reactive element.
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One fateful day in 1938, the duo produced a hundred pounds of a gas and to their surprise, it froze solid inside its storage cylinders. Opening one up, they expected gas to flow out. Nothing happened. Yet the cylinder felt heavy, so something was in there. When they cut it open, they found a strange, waxy white powder. This mysterious substance was extremely slippery and very stable with an unusually high melting point, but Plunkett couldn’t find a practical use for it.
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From wartime secrets to kitchen innovation
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By 1942, the Manhattan Project needed material that could withstand extreme conditions without corroding and Plunkett’s compound proved invaluable. After the war, inventors realized that this nearly indestructible substance could revolutionize cookware, and Teflon was born. By 1961, "The Happy Pan" hit the market, offering non-stick convenience to households worldwide.
What's in your pan, your jacket, your blood?
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What we now know is that PFAS chemicals don’t break down naturally. Today, PFAS are found in the environment, drinking water, and the human body. Research has linked them to health risks like hormonal disruptions, immune system impairments, and increased cholesterol levels.
Today, decades after their accidental discovery, regulators and scientists are racing to contain the damage. Efforts to remove PFAS from drinking water, restrict their usage in consumer goods, and develop safer alternatives are challenging how we deal with something as pervasive as PFAS.
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The silent intruder: PFAS and the human body
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They’re in your drinking water, your cookware, your takeout containers—and they may be in your bloodstream. PFAS, so-called "forever chemicals," have quietly made their way into nearly every corner of modern life. Invisible and nearly indestructible compounds build up in the human body and have been linked to a range of health problems, from hormonal disruption to cancer.
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How PFAS affects your body
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Millions of us unknowingly carry traces of these chemicals in our bodies. Here’s why PFAS is such a concern:
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- Bloodstream: PFAS bind to proteins and circulate, making them difficult to remove.
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- Immune System: PFAS can suppress the immune response, potentially reducing the effectiveness of vaccines and increasing susceptibility to infections and cancer.
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- Liver: PFAS interfere with detoxification processes and change liver enzymes.
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- Thyroid: These chemicals disrupt hormone and metabolic function, leading to imbalances.
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- Fat Tissue: Some PFAS compounds store in fat cells, prolonging exposure.
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Most Americans have detectable PFAS levels in their blood. Long-term exposure has been linked to:
- High cholesterol
- Hormonal issues
- Liver damage
- Weakened immunity
- Certain cancers
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There’s no proven way to fully eliminate PFAS from the body, but some steps may help reduce exposure and support natural detox:
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- Filter water - with reverse osmosis or activated carbon
- Eat healthy diet - avoid over processed foods
- Support liver health - with antioxidants and probiotics
- Switch to PFAS-free - in cookware, cosmetics, and cleaning products
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PFAS and Justice: from awareness to regulation
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PFAS contamination is an environmental justice concern. Communities across the U.S. are facing contaminated water supplies, especially near industrial sites and military bases. Regulators are beginning to act; in 2024, the U.S. EPA finalized its first-ever national limits on PFAS in drinking water.
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Educate yourself and then reach out to others and help them understand the issue. Start an advocacy group in your community or connect with existing organizations who are concerned about these issues.
Keep up the pressure on government. Stress the importance of transparency, stricter regulations, and investment in safer alternatives.
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What's happening in EDA
Last quarter, we talked about how EDA is working on the water scarcity issue in Texas. Here's an update on the situation.
Securing Texas' Water Future: why action is crucial NOW!
EDA has identified three legislative bills that are not just about securing water access—they are about protecting Texas' economic future for generations to come. Without these legislative efforts reliable water supplies, industries, agriculture, and local communities will face severe hardships. Here's the research we've done:
- Senate Bill 7 (SB7) - Beneficial: This bill would direct billions toward improving wastewater treatment, expanding desalination, and reservoir development to expand Texas' water supply. They offer long-term investments in securing clean and reliable water supplies. If approved, this bill will appear on the statewide ballot on November 4, 2025.
- House Joint Resolution (HJR) - Beneficial: This bill is a proposed constitutional amendment in Texas that aims to dedicate a portion of state sales and use tax revenue to the Texas Water. These funds would secure water security initiatives, ensuring a stable and sustainable financial foundation for future projects.
- House Bill 1523 (HB1523) - Not Beneficial: this bill could limit water management strategies and hinder urban water storage efforts. It has drawn support from various stakeholders who claim that Class V injection wells are unsafe and may contaminate aquifers. Class V wells—designed for non-hazardous fluids—are regulated by the EPA to ensure strict compliance with guidelines established by the Safe Drinking Water Act. Currently, no evidence supports the claim that injecting water into an aquifer via a Class V well contaminates drinking water, making it imperative that Texans weigh in on its impact.
See full details on our website. Select "EDA Blue Picks - Water" and click on Texas, then scroll down to find these bills.
By rallying behind these bills, Texans are not just securing their own future—they’re influencing water policy and sustainability efforts across the country.
📢 Here's how you can help: ✅ Join EDA’s Advocacy Team and rally behind these bills to ensure their passage. We will support you in contacting your legislators, spreading awareness, and advocating for responsible water management. ✅ Spread the word on social media using #TexasWaterNow
This isn’t just about policy—it’s about our communities, our economy, and our future. Let’s learn, communicate and take action.
Want to know more? Talk to us and get involved. Your insight, ideas and participation will help us create a more sustainable world.
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Cracking the code: a breakthrough in the fight against PFAS
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The widespread presence of forever chemicals in our environment can feel like an overwhelming and unsolvable problem, but researchers are making promising strides toward solutions. One company has developed an innovative method for breaking down these pollutants, offering a glimpse of hope and a path forward.
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Battelle, founded in 1929 and based in Columbus, Ohio is a mission-driven organization that leverages science and technology to solve some of the world’s most complex problems. With a legacy of supporting national security, public health, and environmental sustainability, Battelle is now tackling PFAS head-on through its new environmental initiative, Revive Environmental.
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PFAS chemicals can be broken down
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At the heart of this effort is the PFAS Annihilator, a mobile treatment system designed to destroy PFAS chemicals down to undetectable levels. Unlike conventional methods that often only filter or contain PFAS, this technology chemically breaks them apart using a mixture of contaminated wastewater, hydrogen peroxide, isopropanol, and sodium hydroxide. It challenges the notion of PFAS as "forever chemicals" and offers a cleaner, safer future.
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The first major milestone for the PFAS Annihilator came with the launch of Revive Environmental’s facility in Columbus, Ohio. This site secured Ohio’s first-ever permit to treat PFAS waste—a groundbreaking achievement that sets a new standard for how these dangerous substances can be dealt with.
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The system saw further success on May 1, 2023, when a PFAS Annihilator unit became operational in Grand Rapids, Michigan, at a wastewater treatment facility owned by Heritage-Crystal Clean. This marked the first permitted use of the technology in the United States, capable of treating more than 160,000 gallons of landfill leachate per day. Its deployment there is already making waves in the field of environmental remediation and demonstrating what’s possible when innovation meets urgent need.
Looking ahead, Revive Environmental has ambitious plans to expand its reach across the country. (Watch the short news story below) With each new installation, the organization hopes to make a measurable dent in PFAS contamination, offering communities a path to cleaner water and healthier ecosystems.
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As regulatory pressure mounts and public awareness grows, solutions like the PFAS Annihilator signal that the battle against forever chemicals is far from lost. Thanks to Battelle’s scientific ingenuity and commitment to environmental sustainability, there is genuine cause for hope.
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PFAS Under Pressure: change is happening and you can make a difference
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By the 2010s, regulators, watchdogs, and people like you started ringing the alarm bells. As of 2025, numerous U.S. states have enacted bans or restrictions.
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States with PFAS Bans and Restrictions
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MAINE: In 2021, Maine became the first state to ban intentionally added PFAS in all products, with the law set to take effect in 2030. Exceptions are made for products deemed "currently unavoidable."
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MINNESOTA: Implemented a ban on PFAS in food packaging starting January 2024. Further restrictions on PFAS in various consumer products, including cookware, cosmetics, and textiles, are scheduled to take effect in January 2025.
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CALIFORNIA: Banned PFAS in food packaging and children's products, with additional restrictions on PFAS in textiles and cosmetics.
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NEW YORK: Enacted bans on PFAS in food packaging and has proposed legislation to prohibit PFAS in menstrual products.
(see: Safer States )
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Let your representatives know they have your support to address these issues.
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WASHINGTON: Implemented bans on PFAS in firefighting foam and is working towards phasing out PFAS in various consumer products.
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COLORADO: Adopted restrictions on PFAS in consumer products, including firefighting foam, with phased implementation starting in 2024.
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CONNETICUT, MARYLAND, OREGON, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT: These states have enacted bans on PFAS in food packaging and other consumer products, reflecting a broader trend of state-level regulation.
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While some states have begun regulating PFAS in products and drinking water, real, lasting change won’t happen without stronger, unified public pressure. If we want to protect our communities and future generations, we need to act now.
Educate your children and grandchildren about PFAS because they will inherit both the consequences and the responsibility to keep the pressure on government for lasting change.
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And talk to your elected representatives. Let them know PFAS is a serious concern. Demand transparency, stricter regulations, and investment in cleaner alternatives. Share what you’ve learned—start a conversation, attend a local meeting, organize with others who care.
The science is clear. The damage is real.
Your voice can create sustained change.
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Join one of our groups
You're welcome to visit any team and sit in on their meetings. It's a great way to find out what they're working on and see which team you might prefer to participate in. Email one of the contacts below to join a meeting.
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Sent to: _t.e.s.t_@example.com
Economic Democracy Advocates, 638 Spartanburg Hwy Ste. 70-342, Hendersonville, NC 28792, United States
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