‘Forever Chemical’ Bans Face Hard Truth: Many Can’t Be Replaced
- Vital for batteries, weapons, semiconductors: manufacturers
- PFAS compounds linked to cancer, heart disease, miscarriages
PFAS substances can be found in firefighter foam and countless other products.
Photographer: James MacDonald/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
As lawmakers around the world weigh bans of cancer-linked “forever chemicals,” many manufacturers are pushing back, saying there often is no substitute for the compounds.
Minnesota and Maine have passed legislation to effectively outlaw the use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, in nearly all products by the early 2030s. Dozens of other states are also considering curbing their use. And the European Union’s Chemical Agency has proposed a widespread ban.