PFAS
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a family of over 5,000 chemicals that can be found in a variety of consumer and industrial products such as nonstick cookware, water-repellent and stain-repellent formulations, fire-fighting foams, pesticides, surfactants, etc. PFAS are man-made chemical compounds which are often referred to as “forever chemicals”, since they have been shown to persist in the environment for long periods of time. As a result of their widespread use, PFAS have been detected in groundwater, surface water, soil, air, plants, fish, animals, and humans. Despite the fact this family of chemicals has been in use since the 1940s, there's still limited scientific knowledge about the impacts of PFAS.
See It On A Map
New York Sea Grant, in collaboration with partners at Penn State University and Cornell University, has created an interactive map to visualize PFAS exposure based on location and habitats. Find the tool here and discover your potential PFAS Exposure Risk and ways to reduce PFAS exposure.