Forever Chemicals: How PFAS Took Over the World

About this episode

The episode discusses the pervasive issue of PFAS, their health impacts, and the collaborative efforts to address chemical contamination.

Rainwater around the world now contains detectable levels of PFAS or ‘forever chemicals.’ Found in everything from waterproof mascara to firefighting foam, PFAS now accumulates in our bodies, soils, and water systems. In this episode of Balancing the Future , Micah and Chai speak with Dr. Alissa Cordner, Professor of Sociology at Whitman College and Co-Director of the PFAS Project Lab, and Dr. Kimberly Garrett, Assistant Professor and Environmental Health Researcher at the City University of New York. Together, they unpack the science, policy, and human stories behind one of the world’s most persistent environmental crises. The conversation explores what PFAS are and why their carbon–fluorine bond makes them so resistant to breakdown, how exposure happens through drinking water, food, clothing, and cosmetics, and the health impacts linked to PFAS, including cancers, developmental issues, and immune system effects. They discuss what governments and communities are doing to regulate and reduce PFAS use and highlight promising alternatives like bioplastics and fluoride-free firefighting foams. Alissa and Kimberly also share how interdisciplinary collaboration between chemists…

People in this episode

Hosts: Micah, Chai

Guests: Dr. Alissa Cordner, Dr. Kimberly Garrett

Topics covered

• PFAS
• environmental health
• chemical contamination
• public policy
• interdisciplinary research

Keywords

• PFAS
• forever chemicals
• environmental crisis
• health impacts
• bioplastics
• firefighting foam
• chemical regulation

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Whitman College, PFAS Project Lab, City University of New York

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