Today, one of the most sobering findings in U.S. environmental health arrives: a new study from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) shows that as many as 95 million Americans — roughly 27 % of the population — may be consuming drinking water contaminated with PFAS.

PFAS — shorthand for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances — are a vast class of synthetic chemicals used for decades in industrial and consumer products: fire-fighting foams, non-stick cookware, stain-resistant fabrics, packaging, and more. They are often dubbed “forever chemicals” because they persist in the environment and in humans, resisting degradation.