Forever Chemical Breakup: Researchers Propose Potential Alternatives:

When it comes to longevity in chemistry, Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), aptly nicknamed "forever chemicals", are on top of the list. Thanks to their durability and waterproofing abilities, these compounds are used in everyday products like food packaging, cosmetics, and various industrial processes. But there's a catch: these forever chemicals have been linked to severe negative health impacts, prompting a global hunt for safer alternatives.

Digging Into the Forever Chemical Conundrum:

One of the challenges in replacing forever chemicals lies in their efficiency: they're stellar at what they do! However, growing evidence of their potential human health impacts, such as elevated cholesterol levels, reduced vaccines effectiveness in children, and increased cancer risk, has led to restrictions on their use in several regions, including EU member states and the US.

Alternatives to Forever Chemicals: A Database Steps In:

The researchers, Romain Figuière, Ian Cousins, and their team have developed an open-access online database documenting all known uses of PFAS, their functions, and potential alternatives that can deliver similar functions. The database also evaluates the suitability and market availability of these alternatives.

Driving Change with Data:

The database identifies over 300 applications of PFAS used across 18 categories, including pharmaceuticals, cookware, and clothing. Furthermore, it states 530 alternatives that perform similar functions. For example, in 40 applications such as coatings for food packages and musical instrument strings, industries can now make potentially safer choices. However, in 83 applications, like certain industrial processes including plastic and rubber production, forever-chemical alternatives are currently lacking. These gaps present an exciting opportunity for further research to discover safe and effective alternatives and ensure unnecessary forever chemical entrances into our environment are kept to a minimum.

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