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 California has recently banned the use of the forever chemicals in cosmetics, clothing, food packaging, cribs and firefighting foam. Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2024 If the shoes haven’t been incinerated into toxic fumes yet, then forever chemicals and other pollutants are probably seeping from the electric green polyester-blend cloth — poisoning the land and water for the low-income communities living near the landfill. Izzie Ramirez, Vox, 9 Sep. 2024 With the Environmental Protection Agency setting national limits for forever chemicals in drinking water for the first time this past April, the big question is how to get rid of them. Amy Feldman, Forbes, 16 Sep. 2024 Simply put, if the goal was to spread forever chemicals as broadly as possible across the nation, there would likely be no more efficient way of doing so than putting them in pesticides. Nathan Donley, Scientific American, 11 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for forever chemical 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'forever chemical.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

2010, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of forever chemical was in 2010

Dictionary Entries Near forever chemical

Cite this Entry

“Forever chemical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/forever%20chemical. Accessed 13 Oct. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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