Although these chemicals surround us in common household goods such as non-stick pans, food packaging, and waterproof clothing, few people have heard of poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs). Used for their stain resistance and waterproof properties, PFASs are a key ingredient in Teflon pans, for example, and many other products including those used in healthcare like carpets and furnishings. Some of these chemicals have been shown to harm reproduction, promote tumor growth, and impact the hormone system, leading to the banning of long-chain perfluorooctane sulfonic acid and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOS and PFOA, C-8) in favor of reportedly safer short-chain alternatives.

New evidence on the short-chain alternatives, however, has led to concern about the entire class of stain resist chemicals accumulating in the environment and posing toxic hazards.

Rather than break down in the environment, PFASs are very persistent, ending up in regions far from the households and businesses where they are used. A 2015 Greenpeace volunteer expedition ventured to remote natural areas far from civilization across three continents and took snow and water samples, finding evidence of PFASs at every site. Surprisingly, the researchers discovered both older and newer short-chain alternative compounds among their samples. This was also the case with scientists studying the Great Lakes, who found evidence of both families of PFASs in herring gull eggs, a sentinel species whose contaminant load reflects that of other species in the area, such as bald eagles and fish. These findings were further supported by a recent study that found PFASs attaching to particulate matter and accumulating in the deep ocean. Notably, the short-chain replacements were present at substantially higher concentrations than the long-chain varieties.

Over 200 environmental scientists and other professionals raised concerns in the 2015 Madrid Statement that newer alternative PFASs are showing up in our environment. While short-chain alternatives are less bioaccumulative, they are just as persistent (non-degradable) in our environment. Additionally, because they are often less effective than their longer-chain predecessors, larger quantities may be needed to have the same effect. What impact that has on the health of the environment and our bodies we have yet to fully understand, since their toxicity is not well characterized for a number of health endpoints. However, emerging research is finding that these newer alternatives do in fact come with their own risks, such as increased risk of miscarriages, which was not a concern for the older compounds.

Health Care Without Harm is taking the lead through the Safer Chemicals Healthy Interiors Goal of Healthier Hospitals, urging hospitals and other healthcare facilities to eliminate their nonessential use of all perfluorinated chemicals, particularly in furnishings, until there is a better understanding of the environmental health risks involved.