Scientifically known as perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), they are a broad family of synthetic chemical compounds consisting of bonds between carbon and fluorine atoms, and include various types, with estimates ranging from 4,700 to over 15,000 fluorinated compounds.
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These compounds are called eternal chemicals, due to their extreme resistance to decomposition, as a result of the strong chemical bonds between the carbon and fluorine atoms that make them up, which gives them a high ability to resist natural decomposition in the environment or inside the human body, making them able to remain for decades or more in the soil, water and tissues of living organisms.
These eternal compounds have chemical properties that make them resistant to heat, water, grease, oils and stains, which has led to their widespread use in consumer and technical industries since the 1940s.
Cosmetics and personal care products: such as shampoo, sunscreen, and coated dental floss.
Firefighting: It is involved in the composition of fire extinguishing foams (AFFF) used to extinguish oil fires.
Electronic industries: Used in the manufacture of electronic chips and components.
Environmental exposure and accumulation methods
Humans are exposed to perfluorooctanoic acid (PFAS) compounds through several sources, most notably contaminated drinking water, consuming food packaged in wrappers containing these compounds or contaminated with them as a result of agricultural activities, as well as contact with consumer products that are used in their manufacture.
The danger of these substances lies in their bioaccumulation; the body absorbs them at a rate exceeding its ability to eliminate them, causing them to accumulate over time in the blood, liver, and kidneys. This accumulation is not limited to humans but extends to living organisms throughout the food chain, reaching fish and marine animals, even in remote areas like the Arctic .
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