Increasing Number of ‘Forever Chemicals’ Found in Pesticides Sold in US: Study

Toxic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), also known as forever chemicals, are increasingly making their way into pesticide products in the United States via multiple pathways, directly contaminating waterways and potentially harming human health, according to the findings of a new study.
The study, titled “Forever Pesticides: A Growing Source of PFAS Contamination in the Environment,” published on July 24 in Environmental Health Perspectives, analyzed the different ways in which PFASs could be introduced into pesticide products, both intentionally and unintentionally.
PFASs are manmade chemicals that break down very slowly over time in both the environment and the bodies of humans and animals. The chemicals have been linked to multiple health issues including cancers, liver damage, and immune disorders. Despite their known health risks, PFASs are widely used throughout the United States on staple foods such as corn, wheat, kale, spinach, apples, and strawberries, as well as in insect-killing sprays and flea treatments for pets….