PFAS

English

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈpiːfæs/

Noun

PFAS (plural PFAS or PFASs)

1. Acronym of perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substance (“a type of environmental pollutant”).

   Synonym: (colloquial) forever chemical

   • 2019, Gretta Goldenman et al., The cost of inaction […] , Nordic Council of Ministers, →ISBN, page 51:

     The US company 3M was the first to manufacture a PFAS commercially – the C8, PFOA.

   • 2021 May 13, Tom Perkins, “Study finds alarming levels of ‘forever chemicals’ in US mothers’ breast milk”, in The Guardian‎^[1], retrieved 2021-05-13:

     A new study that checked American women’s breast milk for PFAS contamination detected the toxic chemical in all 50 samples tested, and at levels nearly 2,000 times higher than the level some public health advocates advise is safe for drinking water.

   • 2023 December 13, Senay Boztas, “Netherlands warns children not to swallow sea foam over PFAS concerns”, in The Guardian‎^[2], →ISSN:

     After research into foam at the Belgian seaside showing a concentration of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) – widely used for their waterproofing qualities but difficult to destroy – the Dutch public health institute RIVM measured the coast in Zeeland, north and south Holland in April and August.

   1. (by restriction) a perfluoroalkyl substance
   2. (by restriction) a polyfluoroalkyl substance

Usage notes

• Although PFAS is sometimes used as a singular noun, several organizations including the US Environmental Protection Agency and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention define the term only in the plural (substances) and discourage the use of PFASs.

Hypernyms

• fluoroalkyl

Hyponyms

• PFOA (“perfluorooctanoic acid”)
• PFOS (“perfluorooctanesulfonic acid”)

Related terms

• (P): per-, poly-
• (F): fluoro- (fluorine)
• (A): alkyl
• (s): substance

Anagrams

• AFSP, SPFA, faps

Dutch

Etymology

From English PFAS.

Pronunciation

• Audio

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Noun

PFAS c (uncountable)

1. PFAS