var finns pfas

PFAS, or per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances, are a large group of synthetic chemicals with over 10,000 identified substances characterized by their strong resistance to breaking down in the environment. PFAS are widespread and found almost everywhere in the environment due to their extensive use and persistence. They occur in food, drinking water, indoor air, dust, and consumer products such as impregnation agents, cleaning products (e.g., floor polish), cosmetics, non-stick cookware, cooling agents, and firefighting foam. Because PFAS do not naturally degrade, they accumulate in places like contaminated soils, water bodies, and living organisms, including humans. Humans are mainly exposed to PFAS through food and drinking water. PFAS contamination can be particularly high near sites with historical use of PFAS-containing firefighting foam, such as fire training areas. PFAS are widely used industrially in chemical, workshop, and electronics sectors, and their production and use lead to environmental contamination. Due to their water- and oil-repellent properties and heat resistance, PFAS-containing products are common in society but pose challenges for environmental and health safety because PFAS accumulate in the body and environment. Overall, PFAS are synthetic chemicals found extensively across the environment, consumer goods, and food, with significant concerns over their accumulation and persistence.