Forever chemicals, formally known as PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), are found in an remarkably wide range of everyday products, foods, and environments. They show up in cookware, clothing, food packaging, cosmetics, drinking water, household dust, and even the blood of more than 96% of Americans tested. The nickname “forever” comes from their carbon-fluorine bonds, which are so strong that these compounds persist in the environment and the human body for years.
Food Packaging and Takeout Containers
For decades, PFAS were applied to food packaging as grease-proofing agents. Fast-food wrappers, microwave popcorn bags, takeout paperboard containers, and pet food bags all used these coatings to keep oil and moisture from soaking through. The FDA announced that PFAS-based grease-proofing agents are no longer being sold for use in U.S. food packaging, but older inventory and imported products can still be in circulation. If a paper wrapper repels grease unusually well, there’s a good chance it was treated with PFAS.
Cookware, Clothing, and Home Furnishings
Nonstick cookware is one of the most familiar sources. Teflon coatings rely on PFAS to create that slippery, easy-to-clean surface. While newer formulations have phased out some of the most concerning compounds, the broader chemical family is still in use.
Outdoor jackets, rain gear, and workwear for firefighters and emergency responders use durable water-repellent (DWR) coatings based on fluorinated polymers. These coatings make fabric resist both water and oil. As the clothing ages and wears, those fluorinated compounds can release into the air, wash water, and eventually the environment. The same chemistry appears in stain-resistant treatments for carpets, rugs (including car floor mats and outdoor rugs), upholstered furniture, and textile furnishings throughout your home.
Minnesota became one of the first states to ban intentionally added PFAS across 11 product categories starting in 2025, including carpets, cookware, fabric treatments, upholstered furniture, cleaning products, ski wax, and synthetic turf.
Cosmetics and Personal Care Products
PFAS appear in cosmetics, where they help products spread smoothly and resist water. Foundation, concealer, and waterproof mascara have all tested positive. Dental floss is another surprising source. Some brands, most notably Oral-B Glide, are made from PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), which is itself a fluoropolymer in the PFAS family. Rather than simply being coated with the chemical, Glide floss is composed entirely of it. Other oral care products use related PFAS compounds to improve smoothness. Menstruation products are another category where PFAS have been detected, prompting their inclusion in Minnesota’s 2025 ban.
Drinking Water
Contaminated drinking water is one of the most significant routes of human exposure. PFAS enter water supplies through industrial discharge, wastewater treatment plants, and runoff from sites where firefighting foam has been used. Military installations are a major concern: nearly 700 U.S. military sites have had a known or suspected release of PFAS, largely because the Department of Defense used PFAS-containing foam for decades to extinguish fuel fires quickly. Airports, fire training facilities, and industrial zones near these sites often have elevated levels in nearby wells and municipal water systems.
The EPA finalized enforceable limits for certain PFAS in drinking water, measured in parts per trillion, a reflection of how even trace amounts raise health concerns. If you’re on a public water system, your utility is required to test for these compounds. Private wells near military bases, airports, or industrial sites carry the highest risk and aren’t covered by federal monitoring requirements.
Food and Seafood
PFAS accumulate in the food chain. Livestock that drink contaminated water or graze on contaminated land can carry the chemicals in their meat and milk. Seafood is particularly susceptible because aquatic environments act as collection points for PFAS runoff.
The FDA tested 81 samples of clams, cod, crab, pollock, salmon, shrimp, tuna, and tilapia. Most seafood samples showed PFAS levels that aren’t considered a health concern. The exception was canned clams from China, which had elevated levels of PFOA. The FDA flagged a potential health concern for anyone eating more than about 10 ounces of those clams per month, with a lower limit of 2 ounces per month for young children. Other studies from China and Europe have similarly reported elevated PFOA in clams from those regions. Freshwater fish caught near contaminated sites, such as rivers downstream from factories or military bases, can carry far higher concentrations than commercially farmed seafood.
Household Dust and Indoor Air
Your home itself is an exposure source. PFAS shed from treated carpets, furniture, and clothing accumulate in household dust. Researchers measuring indoor environments found PFAS in both fine airborne particles and settled dust across all homes tested, with dust concentrations ranging from 1.27 to 9,840 nanograms per gram. That wide range reflects differences in how many PFAS-treated products a household contains. Homes with newer stain-resistant carpeting or recently treated upholstery tend to have higher levels. Regular vacuuming and wet mopping can reduce dust accumulation, though they won’t eliminate the source.
Landfills and Groundwater
When PFAS-containing products are thrown away, they don’t break down. Landfills receive enormous volumes of food packaging, stain-resistant fabrics, and carpets, all of which slowly release PFAS as rainwater filters through the waste. This creates contaminated liquid called leachate, which can migrate into surrounding soil and groundwater. Lab studies confirm that carpet, textiles, food packaging, and general household waste all release PFAS during the decomposition process. Landfills also emit volatile PFAS compounds through their gas venting systems, spreading contamination into the air around disposal sites.
How Widespread Is Human Exposure?
National health surveys tracking blood levels of PFAS in the U.S. population paint a striking picture. Data from the CDC’s long-running biomonitoring program show that more than 96% of Americans aged 12 to 19, many of whom were born after manufacturers began phasing out some PFAS in the early 2000s, still have measurable concentrations in their blood. Roughly 78% of the general population has detectable levels of one specific PFAS compound (PFHpS) alone. These numbers reflect the cumulative effect of exposure from water, food, dust, packaging, and consumer products over a lifetime. PFAS leave the body very slowly, with some compounds taking four to eight years to drop by half, which means even modest ongoing exposure builds up over time.