“Forever chemicals” – technically known as perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) – are remarkably useful things. They’re also among the most dangerous pollutants on the planet, says investigative journalist Mariah Blake.
The many carbon-fluorine bonds in these chemicals, consisting of an alkyl chain connected to multiple fluorine atoms, are considered the strongest in organic chemistry.
This makes them remarkably resistant to heat, water, and chemical corrosion, giving them applications in everything from nonstick cookware to firefighting foam, medical devices and waterproof clothing. In fact, their first major application after their invention was in separating weapons-grade uranium isotopes from corrosive gas for the Manhattan Project, assisting in the creation of the first atomic bomb.
But as Blake recounts in her book “They Poisoned the World” (Penguin Random House, 2025), PFAS bonds are “proteinophilic”, causing them to strongly bind with proteins in the organs and blood, persisting there for years. Outside of our bodies, the chemicals have biological half-lives that can span centuries. Eight decades since their invention, they are now in the bodies of nearly every human being on the planet – accumulating in our bloodstreams, livers, kidneys, and lungs.
Blake’s book chronicles a decades-long cover-up that hid the chemicals’ links to cancer and birth defects, and the fight to expose the contamination by the people of Hoosick Falls – a village in New York State whose water was polluted by PFAS runoff. Her work has been shortlisted for multiple prizes, including the PEN/E.O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award, an annual award for excellence in nonfiction in the physical or biological sciences.
Live Science spoke with Blake about PFAS, how they came to pollute the planet, and why one of history’s greatest corporate scandals is not quite over yet.
Ben Turner: Let’s start off simple. What are PFAS?
Mariah Blake: PFAS, also known as forever chemicals, are a large family of substances with some pretty incredible properties that make them very useful.
They’re extremely resistant to heat, stains, water, and grease. They stand up to corrosive chemicals that burn through almost every other substance. They helped usher in air and space travel and high-speed computing. They have given rise to life-saving medical devices – things like patches for deteriorating veins and arteries. They’ve transformed thousands of everyday items – everything from dental floss and clothing to kitty litter and makeup. They are in all of our homes and in all of our blood.
They also happen to be, in my opinion, the most insidious pollutants in all of human history.
Blake goes on to describe the history of PFAS, their negative health impacts, the cover-up by major corporations, and the ongoing fight to regulate and eliminate these harmful chemicals from the environment.
Fact Check: The text discusses the harmful effects of PFAS, including the cover-up by corporations and the long-term impact on human health and the environment. It also highlights the lack of transparency in the chemical industry and the challenges in regulating these chemicals effectively.
