---
title: "What Is Forever chemicals? Remediation Glossary"
description: "Forever chemicals is the common nickname for PFAS, chosen because many of them break down very slowly and can build up in people, animals and the environment..."
url: https://aes.multisites.ai/glossary/forever-chemicals
publisher: Advanced Environmental Services
phone: +1-314-865-2662
quote: https://aes.multisites.ai/contact
---

PFAS

# Forever chemicals

Forever chemicals is the common nickname for PFAS, chosen because many of them break down very slowly and can build up in people, animals and the environment over time.

"Forever chemicals" is a nickname, not a scientific term. It points to one real trait of [PFAS](https://aes.multisites.ai/glossary/pfas): they last. EPA says a common concern is that many break down very slowly and can build up in people, animals and the environment over time.

Missouri DNR repeats the same point and adds that they can be found in water, soil, air and food.

The name can sound like a promise that nothing can be done. That is not right. Treatment exists. EPA lists activated carbon, ion exchange resins and high-pressure membranes as technologies shown to remove PFAS from drinking water. See [granular activated carbon](https://aes.multisites.ai/glossary/granular-activated-carbon-gac) for one of them.

Because the chemicals persist, early testing matters. A small source can become a larger plume in soil and groundwater. For owners of industrial, firefighting or landfill-adjacent sites, a baseline test costs little next to a surprise later.

Read [parts per trillion](https://aes.multisites.ai/glossary/parts-per-trillion-ppt) to understand how tiny the measured amounts are.

## Related terms

-   [PFAS](https://aes.multisites.ai/glossary/pfas)
-   [PFOA](https://aes.multisites.ai/glossary/pfoa)
-   [Granular activated carbon (GAC)](https://aes.multisites.ai/glossary/granular-activated-carbon-gac)
-   [Parts per trillion (ppt)](https://aes.multisites.ai/glossary/parts-per-trillion-ppt)

## Sources

1.  [EPA: Our Current Understanding of the Human Health and Environmental Risks of PFAS](https://www.epa.gov/pfas/our-current-understanding-human-health-and-environmental-risks-pfas)
2.  [Missouri DNR: Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)](https://dnr.mo.gov/contaminant-spotlight/perfluoroalkyl-polyfluoroalkyl-substances-pfas)

## Request your custom environmental remediation estimate

Contact us for a free environmental remediation or restoration estimate and a personalized solution to your problems.

[Request a Quote](https://aes.multisites.ai/contact)[(314) 865-2662](tel:+1-314-865-2662)