per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances

plural noun

variants or less commonly perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances

: synthetic chemicals that contain fluorinated carbon atoms, are used in consumer and industrial products for their desirable properties (such as water, stain, and fire resistance), are highly resistant to breakdown, and typically accumulate in soil and water as environmental pollutants : pfas

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances are industrial pollutants ubiquitously distributed that persist in the environment.

—Rowan-Carroll et al.

PFAS, which stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, resist water, oil, heat, and grease. They've been used for decades in consumer products and industrial applications …

—John Hilliard

Chemicals called PFAS, short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are sometimes called "forever chemicals" because they resist breaking down naturally in the environment, news reports said.

—Julie Washington

Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of synthetic chemicals widely used in coatings and foams that resist oil, heat and water. There are thousands of types of PFAS, used in everything from dental floss to waterproof jackets and non-stick pans.

—Madeleine Cuff

—used in singular before another noun

per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance toxicity

Examples of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The new standard limits six types of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, found in drinking water -- a move the EPA says will protect around 100 million people from exposure. —Kelly Livingston, ABC News, 10 Apr. 2024

This morning, the agency announced national limits for six types of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in drinking water. —Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 10 Apr. 2024

Studies have revealed the presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in firefighting textiles. —Monica Sanders, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024

The lawsuit filed in Connecticut federal court on Wednesday alleges the company has used per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, to make tissues at its plant in New Milford. —Reuters, NBC News, 1 Mar. 2024

The report identifies 15 such priority groups, which include familiar names such as bisphenols (BPA and its offspring); phthalates; per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS); and parabens (preservatives). —Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 14 Mar. 2024

Eliminating the grease-proofing substances ends a yearslong campaign by the agency to phase out per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, toxic chemicals that may be linked to serious health problems, including cancer, birth defects and immune system suppression. —Berkeley Lovelace Jr., NBC News, 28 Feb. 2024

The first round of samples taken from Bear Creek and the Fini-Finish shop building show chemicals including metals and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) were released into the waterway. —Keith Matheny, Detroit Free Press, 13 Feb. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

2007, in the meaning defined above