PFAS: Regulation, Risk, and Remediation

Published by Responsible Alpha: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large class of synthetic chemicals characterized by strong carbon-fluorine bonds. Given their unique ability to resist water, oil, heat, and stains, they have been used for over 70 years in a wide range of consumer and industrial products. PFAS have become indispensable to industries such as aerospace, textiles, packaging, and electronics. Yet the same characteristics supporting widespread use also make it nearly impossible to break down in nature. As a result, PFAS accumulate in soil, water, animals, and human bodies, where they can remain for decades (J.P. Morgan, 2025).