Showing results for "forever chemicals"

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Tech & Science dictionary results for forever chemicals.

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)

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

forever chemicals

But they were later classed as carcinogenic, banned worldwide, and are seen today as the first "forever chemicals" - which are building up in the environment, threatening wildlife and human health.

From BBC ● Sep. 10, 2026

The bill marks the latest back-and-forth over PFAS, chemicals that are found in many different consumer, commercial and industrial products and are known as forever chemicals because some of their components don’t easily break down.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 30, 2026

But there is growing concern about the long-term environmental and health impacts of some of these "forever chemicals" - so called because they persist and accumulate across ecosystems.

From BBC ● Apr. 22, 2026

Often referred to as "forever chemicals," many of these substances do not break down easily and can build up in the environment and inside the human body.

From Science Daily ● Mar. 21, 2026

Hundreds of Belgians living near a 3M plant have sued the US multinational maker of Post-it and Scotch tape over pollution from so-called "forever chemicals" in a trial that opens on Tuesday.

From Barron's ● Feb. 24, 2026

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