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.

—Andrea 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

Recognized as a particularly pesky class of anthropogenic pollutants, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) can take root in land once given the opportunity, according to the Interstate Technology Regulatory Council (ITRC). —Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 23 Dec. 2025

Over decades, the dangers of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, so called forever chemicals, come to light despite the manufacturers’ attempts to keep dodging responsibility. —Brianne Kane, Scientific American, 4 Dec. 2025

But unlike many smaller municipal utilities across the U.S., the Louisville Water Company regularly checks for PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). —NPR, 30 Nov. 2025

The particular problem with these pesticides is that both of them contain toxic PFAS, short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. —Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 26 Nov. 2025

However, people should not consume any turkey hunted in specific areas because of contamination from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) that could harm human health, the MDIFW warned. —Anna Skinner, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025

Limiting forever chemicals in Indiana A handful of bills to create tighter restrictions around per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as PFAS or forever chemicals, did not get hearings. —Karl Schneider, IndyStar, 26 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

2007, in the meaning defined above