forever chemical

noun

plural forever chemicals

: a toxic substance and especially a synthetic chemical (as of the per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances group) that persists and accumulates in the environment

—not used technically

Canadian researchers have discovered high levels of a "forever chemical", used in making toilet paper, in the bodies of endangered killer whales, sparking fears the toxic substance could further harm them.

—Leyland Ceccoin

Landfills, military bases and firefighting training centers also are thought to be sources of forever chemical pollution.

—Sammy Fretwell

—often used in plural

PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are colloquially known as "forever chemicals" because they are so difficult to break down.

—Layne Cameron

Forever chemicals are used as surface treatments to block water and stains. In fact, a 2022 report by Toxic-Free Future, an environmental health research and advocacy organization, found that nearly three-quarters of products labeled as water- or stain-resistant tested positive for them.

—Hannah Norman

PFAS, a group of manufactured chemicals commonly used since the 1940s, are called "forever chemicals" for a reason. Bacteria can't eat them; fire can't incinerate them; and water can't dilute them.

—Amanda Morris

Van Zile said many people love a Wisconsin Friday fish fry, but many fish are found with high levels of forever chemicals, such as mercury, and that we're slowly poisoning ourselves.

—Frank Vaisvilas

Examples of forever chemical in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

If forever chemicals are your concern, a basic pitcher won’t get you there regardless of which brand is sitting on your counter. —Allison Palmer, Kansas City Star, 13 May 2026

There is a significant concern in Johnson County about PFAS — or synthetic ‘forever chemicals’ — which don’t break down in the environment and are linked to serious health issues like cancer. —Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 May 2026

The federal rules would place drinking water safety limits on two of the forever chemicals once relied on by the carpet industry. —Dylan Jackson, ABC News, 6 May 2026

Cleanup plan The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation required Brookhaven town to submit a cleanup plan for the toxic forever chemicals traveling in an underground plume. —Jennifer McLogan, CBS News, 5 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

2018, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for forever chemical

• electrochemical
• immunochemical
• physicochemical
• physiochemical
• radiochemical
• stereochemical
• academical
• agrochemical
• biochemical
• cytochemical
• geochemical
• histochemical