per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances

plural noun

variants or less commonly perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances

: synthetic chemicals that contain fluorinated carbon atoms, are used in consumer and industrial products for their desirable properties (such as water, stain, and fire resistance), are highly resistant to breakdown, and typically accumulate in soil and water as environmental pollutants : pfas

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances are industrial pollutants ubiquitously distributed that persist in the environment.

—Rowan-Carroll et al.

PFAS, which stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, resist water, oil, heat, and grease. They've been used for decades in consumer products and industrial applications …

—John Hilliard

Chemicals called PFAS, short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are sometimes called "forever chemicals" because they resist breaking down naturally in the environment, news reports said.

—Julie Washington

Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of synthetic chemicals widely used in coatings and foams that resist oil, heat and water. There are thousands of types of PFAS, used in everything from dental floss to waterproof jackets and non-stick pans.

—Madeleine Cuff

—used in singular before another noun

per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance toxicity

Examples of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Nguyen, who is also a per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) injury attorney, based in Houston, Texas, explained that many common household items contain microplastics and PFAS, also known as forever chemicals. —Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 8 Jan. 2025

There's little room for debate about the manufacturing benefits of chemicals known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS. —Michael Franco, New Atlas, 18 Dec. 2024

Ruffalo was referring to the producers of the thousands of types of synthetic compounds known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS. —Sharon Udasin, The Hill, 9 Dec. 2024

Wall-to-Wall Pitfall Carpet fibers and treatments like stain-resistant coatings or flame retardants can contain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). —Lisa Wood Shapiro, WIRED, 7 Dec. 2024

Those chemicals of concern include per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), persistent bioaccumulative and toxic (PBT) substances, flame retardants and metals. —Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2024

Baker was particularly interested in measuring PFAS, also known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, which have been used since the 1940s to make human life easier. —Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 5 Feb. 2024

This cookware set is free of potentially toxic chemicals, including heavy metals and PFAS (or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), which may be harmful over time. —Lizzy Briskin, People.com, 14 Oct. 2024

Launched in 2020, the ETH Zurich spin-off takes aim at per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS): synthetic chemicals long used in everyday goods for their water, grease, and oil-resistant properties—and toxic to humans. —Alex Christian, WIRED, 14 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

2007, in the meaning defined above