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PFAS

Meaning

An acronym for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances, a large class of synthetic chemicals characterized by a carbon-fluorine bond, which confers unique properties like oil and water resistance, leading to their widespread use in consumer and industrial products. These chemicals are highly persistent in the environment and the human body, earning them the nickname “forever chemicals,” and they are clinically recognized as potential endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) that can interfere with hormonal signaling. Their presence is a growing concern in environmental health.