HJAR Sep/Oct 2023

46 SEP / OCT 2023 I  HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF ARKANSAS ADH CORNER COLUMN ADH CORNER RECENTLY, many companies have begun to advertise certain products as now being free of certain chemicals — like BPA, phthal- ates, and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) — especially those used for food and drinks. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) describes PFAS as “widely used, long lasting chemicals that break down very slow- ly over time.”As a result, these chemicals can now be found in water, soil, and in the blood of people and animals around the world. Be- cause the chemicals break down so slowly, they are often called “forever chemicals.” They can accumulate in people and animals exposed to them. PFAS are a group of over 9,000 synthetic chemicals used in many consumer prod- ucts because they repel water and oil. PFAS What You Need to Know About “FOREVER CHEMICALS”