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

Emmaus was among 839 water systems whose yearly average exceeded EPA limits for two types of forever chemicals, according to a USA TODAY analysis of new test results the EPA released last week. —Nicole Fallert, USA Today, 14 Aug. 2025

Such extremes – in the nature of PFAS chemicals and in the lengths needed to make those chemicals go away – are one reason why so many non-scientists are starting to care about, and fear, their long-term exposure to forever chemicals. —Andre Mouchard, Oc Register, 20 July 2025

Menstrual cups were the only category of product that had PFAS levels low enough to suggest the forever chemicals weren’t intentionally added. —Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 28 July 2025

These forever chemicals have so far been implicated in a wide range of medical studies, and scientists are only just beginning to unpack the health risks of long-chain PFAS exposure. —New Atlas, 28 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

2010, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for forever chemical

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