• PFAS are chemicals that have partially or completely fluorinated carbon chains of varied lengths.
• Due to these strong carbon-fluorine bonds, they do not degrade easily in the environment and are often referred to as “forever chemicals”.
• PFAS like perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) are listed under Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants and their production and use are restricted or eliminated in the Parties. Stockholm Convention

Risks.

• Found in the blood of people and animals
• High exposure associated with health risks like decreased fertility, developmental effects in children, interference with body hormones, increased cholesterol levels, liver damage, kidney and testicular cancer.
• Difficult to capture and destroy, capital expensive methods.

Measures to reduce PFAS contamination.

• Safe disposal of PFAS using methods like filtration through activated carbon tanks, incineration etc.;
• phasing out PFASs listed under the Stockholm Convention and replace them with safer alternatives;
• Avoid PFAS-based non-stick pans and kitchen utensils; etc.