What Are PFAS? A Plain-English Guide to Forever Chemicals

PFAS are a large group of manufactured chemicals that help products resist grease, water and stains. Many break down very slowly and can build up in people and the environment, and several states now restrict them in everyday products.

Updated October 5, 2026Sources: EPA, FDA, CDC, NIEHS, OECD, ECHA and state agencies

Is it banned in your state? Open the map Check a product

What PFAS are

PFAS stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. EPA describes them as manufactured chemicals used in industry and consumer products since the 1940s. NIEHS notes that the carbon-fluorine bond in their molecules is one of the strongest, so they do not degrade easily.

In 2021 the OECD defined PFAS as fluorinated substances with at least one fully fluorinated methyl or methylene carbon atom, which with a few exceptions means any chemical with a CF3 or CF2 group. The definition rests on structure alone and does not say whether a compound is harmful, the OECD notes. NIEHS, citing an EPA chemicals database, puts the number of PFAS at nearly 15,000.

EPA and Colorado’s public health department both call PFAS “forever chemicals.” Colorado explains that they do not break down easily. According to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA), they last in the environment longer than any other man-made substance.

Where PFAS show up in everyday products

ECHA says many PFAS repel water and grease and hold up under intense heat. EPA’s examples include stain- and water-repellent treatments on carpets, upholstery and clothing, nonstick cookware, cleaning products, paints, dental floss and cosmetics.

EPA also lists grease-resistant food packaging such as fast food wrappers, microwave popcorn bags and pizza boxes. In February 2024, FDA announced that manufacturers had stopped selling PFAS grease-proofing agents for paper food packaging in the U.S.

FDA has authorized PFAS for nonstick coatings on pots and pans and says studies show negligible amounts can migrate to food. It also says some lipsticks, eyeshadows, moisturizers, nail polish and cleansers contain PFAS added on purpose to smooth skin and hair, add shine or change texture.

Firefighting foam is another use. EPA says airports, military bases and refineries have used aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) in training and emergencies to put out flammable liquid fires. NIEHS calls these foams a major source of PFAS contamination.

Why states are restricting PFAS

EPA calls slow breakdown a common characteristic of concern. Minnesota’s pollution control agency adds that some PFAS build up in people, all are hard to remove from the environment, and the pollution continues for decades or centuries after people throw a product away.

Products are one route of exposure. EPA also lists contaminated water, certain foods such as fish, soil and dust, and air. CDC surveys show most people in the United States have been exposed to some PFAS, EPA says.

Contamination is expensive. ECHA says PFAS pollution of groundwater and drinking water is difficult and costly to avoid. In Minnesota’s view, prevention protects taxpayers from costly cleanup.

So Minnesota’s PFAS plan puts prevention first, and its product laws, like Maine’s, target intentionally added PFAS. Minnesota defines those as PFAS deliberately added during manufacturing to perform a specific function, such as making a rain jacket water resistant.

What the laws do and don’t do

Maine and Minnesota both ban the sale of new products with intentionally added PFAS, category by category, from set dates. Minnesota’s first 11 categories, including cookware and cosmetics, took effect in 2025. Maine started with carpets and fabric treatments in 2023 and added cookware and cosmetics in 2026.

In 2032 both states extend the ban to any product with intentionally added PFAS unless regulators find the use currently unavoidable. Minnesota asks whether a use is essential for health, safety or the functioning of society and whether alternatives are reasonably available. Maine also exempts some categories, such as medical devices.

Some laws add reporting or labels. Minnesota’s first manufacturer reports were due September 15, 2026. From 2029, Maine will allow outdoor apparel for severe wet conditions with intentionally added PFAS only with the disclosure “Made with PFAS chemicals.” Colorado says its PFAS laws include clear labeling.

The bans apply to sales. Minnesota says its prohibitions do not prevent households from using or disposing of products that may contain PFAS. Used products fall outside Maine’s rules. The state pages on this site list each law and its dates.

Is it banned where you live?

13 states ban PFAS in at least one consumer product today and 4 more have bans scheduled. The map shows which products, from when.

Open the map Check a product

How to tell if a product contains PFAS

Labels help only sometimes. Colorado’s public health department says PFAS warning labels aren’t always clear. Disclosure rules like Maine’s cover only certain products.

For cosmetics sold at retail, FDA says the label must list ingredients in descending order of predominance, and it advises shoppers who want to avoid PFAS to read that list. The PFAS ingredients it names include polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), perfluorononyl dimethicone and methyl perfluorobutyl ether, and all of them contain “fluoro,” often as “perfluoro.” Colorado suggests scanning ingredient lists for “fluoro,” “PTFE” and “nonstick.”

When a label says nothing, ask. Minnesota encourages concerned consumers to ask manufacturers directly and expects manufacturer reports due in 2026 to give the public detailed information.

Read “free” claims closely. Minnesota’s health department notes that a “PFOA free” claim may mean a product contains a trace of PFOA and could have any amount of other PFAS. EPA says other PFAS have replaced PFOA and PFOS in the United States.

Health questions

EPA says peer-reviewed studies have shown that exposure to certain levels of PFAS may lead to several health effects. They include reproductive effects such as decreased fertility, developmental effects or delays in children, a higher risk of some cancers (including prostate, kidney and testicular), a reduced ability to fight infections, hormone interference, and higher cholesterol or risk of obesity.

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) says epidemiological evidence suggests associations between higher exposure to specific PFAS and certain health effects. They include higher cholesterol, lower antibody response to some vaccines, changes in liver enzymes, high blood pressure and preeclampsia in pregnancy, small decreases in birth weight, and, for PFOA, kidney and testicular cancer.

Both agencies add caveats. ATSDR says risk depends on the dose, frequency, route and duration of exposure, plus individual factors, and that scientists are still learning how PFAS mixtures affect health. EPA says most known exposures are relatively low, though some can be high, particularly from a concentrated source over long periods. FDA’s December 2025 assessment of PFAS in cosmetics found significant data gaps.

This page does not offer medical advice. ATSDR’s health effects page and EPA’s research summary go into more detail.

Where to learn more

EPA’s PFAS Explained page covers the basics. Its guide to reducing your risk explains how to check on PFAS in drinking water and find fish advisories.

ATSDR’s PFAS and Your Health section covers exposure, health effects, blood testing and ways to reduce exposure. NIEHS summarizes research findings.

FDA reports its PFAS testing of foods and its actions on packaging.

Questions

What does PFAS stand for?

PFAS stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. EPA describes them as a group of manufactured chemicals used in industry and consumer products since the 1940s and says there are thousands of different PFAS. Source

Why are PFAS called forever chemicals?

The name reflects how long they last. Colorado’s public health department says PFAS do not break down easily, which means PFAS from household products can get into the environment. Source

Do nonstick pans contain PFAS?

Some do. FDA has authorized PFAS for nonstick coatings on pots and pans and says studies show negligible amounts of PFAS in this coating can migrate to food. The state pages on this site show which states restrict cookware with intentionally added PFAS. Source

Is PFAS banned in my state?

It depends on the state and the product. Minnesota, for example, has banned the sale of 11 categories of new products with intentionally added PFAS since January 1, 2025, and its ban extends to all products with intentionally added PFAS in 2032 unless regulators find the use currently unavoidable. The state pages on this site list each law and its dates. Source

Can I keep using PFAS products I already own?

Minnesota’s pollution control agency says its PFAS prohibitions do not prevent households or businesses from using or disposing of products that may contain PFAS. When those products wear out, the agency lists which ones go in regular trash and which belong in household hazardous waste collection. Source

Does “PFOA-free” mean PFAS-free?

Not necessarily. Minnesota’s health department says a “PFOA free” claim may mean a product contains a trace amount of PFOA and could have any amount of other PFAS. Source

This guide explains what agencies have published. It is not medical or legal advice.