Author: Sébastien Sauvé, Professeur en chimie environnementale, Université de Montréal

Many substances harmful to human health are finding their way into our drinking water. These include the so-called ‘forever chemicals,’ per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). A group of fluorinated chemical compounds, they are resistant to degradation, bioaccumulate in tissues, and are highly mobile in the environment. Widely used as non-stick coatings, stain repellents and surfactants, among other industrial applications, PFAS have become a major environmental and health concern over the last 10 to 20 years. PFAS can now be detected almost anywhere using the right analytical equipment. This has raised concerns about the health effects of current exposure levels. Multiple…