10/02/2026
What exactly is a “forever chemical”?
You have probably seen PFAS in the news, but what makes these chemicals so persistent? And why have they been used in so many products?
TERA’s new three-part series begins with a closer look at PFOA, one member of the larger PFAS family. The first article explains the chemistry that makes these compounds useful, why some can persist in the environment and the human body, and why detecting a chemical does not automatically mean that an exposure is harmful.
Understanding PFOA requires looking at the specific chemical, how the body handles it, the amount and duration of exposure, and the available scientific evidence.
Read Part 1, “What Is a ‘Forever Chemical’? Understanding PFOA and PFAS,” on the TERA Substack. Part 2 will examine how scientists establish exposure levels and why different organizations have reached very different conclusions.
https://teraorg.substack.com