EP 898 Are Forever Chemicals a Forever Problem?

 Let’s start with the basics.  What are ‘forever chemicals?’  And so this podcast begins with Professor Matt Simcik, an environmental chemist from the University of Minnesota, trying to explain to me, a layman, what they are.  They have been in the news lately and there are now efforts around the country to limit their use and our exposure to them.  They are otherwise referred to as PFAS chemicals   which have been around since the 1940’s.  They are manufactured and engineered to be strong, with a durable carbon-fluorine chemical bond. Like many other industrial developments, PFAS chemicals were created with good intentions–to keep people safe, offer convenience and spur economic growth.  Much later, we find that their use brings with it health risks particularly in our food and water.  Let’s leave it there and allow our guest to bring his expertise to the subject.  Stay until the end when he describes what each of us can do to minimize our risks with ‘forever chemicals.’

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