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.

---

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

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

Babies born between 2003 and 2006 encountered far more "forever chemicals" in the womb than researchers once recognized, according to a study published in Environmental Science & Technology.

From Science Daily

Bayer also said it expected to pay another $3bn in separate RoundUp cases, including from several states in the US over its relationship to forever chemicals.

From BBC

A Consumer Reports review of 41 types of powdered infant formula last year found that about half contained detectable levels of contaminants such as arsenic, lead and “forever chemicals” known as PFAS.

From The Wall Street Journal

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

From BBC