forever chemicals

American  

[fawr-ev-er kem-i-kuhlz, fer-] / fɔrˈɛv ər ˌkɛm ɪ kəlz, fər- /

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.

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Etymology

Origin of forever chemicals

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

Example Sentences

The analysis also found that 64 percent of samples contained at least one per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance, also known as "forever chemicals", which are found throughout the environment and everyday products.

From Barron's

Concerns over 'forever chemicals' being buried near local farms and communities in south Wales were first identified by researcher and whistleblower Douglas Gowan almost 60 years ago.

From BBC

One is that synthetic fabrics, when washed, shed “forever chemicals” and microplastics that recent studies have found present in all manner of human organs.

From The Wall Street Journal

Which means it’s up to us, as individuals, to stop ingesting the pink slime of AI slop, the forever chemicals of outrage bait and the microplastics of misinformation-for-profit.

From The Wall Street Journal

A French ban on the production and sale of cosmetics and most clothing containing polluting and health-threatening "forever chemicals" goes into force on Thursday.

From Barron's