forever chemicals
[ fawr-ev-er kem-i-kuhlz, fer- ]
plural noun
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.: See also biological accumulation.
Origin of forever chemicals
1Coined by U.S. academic and public health expert Joseph G. Allen in an opinion piece in The Washington Post (2018)
Words Nearby forever chemicals
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
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