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forever chemicals

[ fawr-ev-er kem-i-kuhlz, fer- ]

plural noun

  1. long-lasting chemicals, including PFAS and hydrofluorocarbons, used in the manufacture of common household items such as refrigerators, nonstick cookware, and flame-resistant furniture, that remain in the environment because they break down very slowly, and subsequently accumulate within animals and people. biological accumulation ( def ).


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Word History and Origins

Origin of forever chemicals1

Coined by U.S. academic and public health expert Joseph G. Allen in an opinion piece in The Washington Post (2018)

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