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)

Example Sentences

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forever chemicals

PFAS, known as "forever chemicals" because they take a long time to break down, have previously been linked to serious health conditions, including kidney and testicular cancer.

From BBC ● Jul. 21, 2026

They are often referred to as "forever chemicals" because they break down very slowly and can accumulate in the environment and in the human body.

From Science Daily ● Feb. 23, 2026

Listen to BBC Inside Science: Where do forever chemicals come from?

From BBC ● Feb. 11, 2026

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 ● Jan. 29, 2026

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 ● Jan. 2, 2026