If a product treated with PFAS has a five-to-ten-year functional lifespan, how long might the chemical remain active?
Answer
Decades, potentially centuries
A defining characteristic of PFAS is the extreme disparity between the functional lifespan of a consumer product treated with these chemicals and the persistence of the chemical itself once released. While a carpet, piece of furniture, or raincoat treated with PFAS might function effectively for a typical period ranging from five to ten years, the underlying fluorinated chemistry does not disappear when the product wears out. The stability afforded by the carbon-fluorine bond ensures that the chemical agent remains active and environmentally persistent for extended periods, often measured in decades, and potentially spanning centuries, confirming that the accumulation risk is highly long-term.
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