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 ).

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)