Researchers have made a breakthrough in their understanding of harmful “forever chemicals,” discovering their hidden weakness. 

The “forever” part of the name stems from their resistance to breaking down and their ability to persist in the environment for decades or longer. They can be found in water, soil and even human bodies.

But now, we may be able to destroy them with intensified simulated solar light.

What are forever chemicals?

Forever chemicals is the nickname for PFAS, which stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances.

They are completely man-made and are formed by artificially connecting carbon and fluorine. 

Since the 1940s, they have been widely utilized in consumer and industrial products because of their ability to provide stain-resistant, waterproof, grease-resistant and non-stick qualities. 

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They’re found in things like clothing, carpet, waterproof cosmetics, non-stick cookware and fast food packaging.

Forever chemicals are dangerous because they’re linked to a variety of health concerns, including various cancers, developmental and reproductive effects, impaired immune function and metabolic effects like obesity, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

What is the latest discovery?

One of the key elements in this breakthrough is the possibility of destroying the PFAS without added chemicals. This opens the door to greener and more effective technologies for permanently removing these stubborn pollutants.

Most current fixes only capture and relocate the chemicals rather than destroy them. Common treatments — granular activated carbon, ion exchange and reverse osmosis — capture PFAS onto media or into a concentrate rather than breaking the molecules apart.

But this lab experiment shows high-energy UV light alone can rip apart some PFAS by generating hydrogen radicals in water.

While this latest study doesn’t provide an immediate fix, it does answer longstanding questions about the chemistry behind the resiliency of PFAS. 

Now that we have identified hydrogen radicals as a dominant driver in breaking their powerful bonds, more effective technologies can be developed, according to Associate Professor Zongsu Wei of Aarhus University, who led the study.

"Today, many technologies can filter PFAS out of water, but they don't eliminate them. The real goal is degradation: to break the molecules down completely,” Wei told ScienceDaily. “Understanding the mechanism is essential if we want to achieve that in a green and scalable way."

Content writer Ada Wood enjoys exploring the stories that science and climate teach us about our natural world and how it influences the way we live in it.