I am writing a series of articles about PFAS — often referred to as “forever chemicals” — and their impact on public health. Your expertise in environmental health would be invaluable in helping our readers better understand the risks of PFAS exposure, the challenges communities face, and the necessary actions to protect public health. QUESTIONS: From your perspective, why are PFAS often referred to as "forever chemicals," and what makes them particularly concerning for public health and the environment? What health effects linked to PFAS exposure are you most concerned about right now, and what does the latest science suggest about long-term risks? Communities across the country are learning that their water or soil is contaminated. What do you see in these communities — emotionally and medically — when people learn they’ve been exposed? There have been lawsuits, regulatory moves, and growing public awareness. In your view, what actions are needed most urgently from regulators, manufacturers, or health agencies to protect the public? On a personal level, what keeps you motivated to continue working on PFAS research and advocacy, despite ongoing challenges and uncertainties? You can answer as many as you like, but respond in quotable sentences.

The carbon-fluorine bond that makes PFAS stable is stronger than almost any natural chemical bond, and no enzyme in nature has evolved to break it down. While bacteria can eventually degrade oil, plastics, or pesticides, PFAS remain virtually untouched in the environment and even in our bodies. This unshakable stability is what earns them the name "forever chemicals" and why they pose such a lasting concern for both public health and the planet.

1. Why are PFAS referred to as "forever chemicals," and what makes them concerning? PFAS (used in AFFF also known as Aqueous Film Forming Foam) are 'forever chemicals' because they don't break down naturally, and they accumulate in people and the ecosystems for decades. That persistence means exposure today can create health and legal consequences in the future. 2. What health effects concern you most? The science is strongest around cancers, thyroid disease, cholesterol, and immune suppression, but what worries me most are the unknowns since we are so early in the court stages of this. We are just at the beginning to understand how PFAS may affect reproduction, development, and long-term chronic disease. 3. What do communities experience emotionally and medically? In my work, I regularly speak with clients who have discovered PFAS contamination in their water or soil. The first reaction is they often fear for their families' health, followed quickly by anger that this could happen without their knowledge and finally depression after many doctor visits. Many of these people are looking for an attorney or have already hired one. They feel that legal action is the only way to protect their families and hold the manufacturers accountable. 4. What actions are most urgently needed? We need federal standards for PFAS in drinking water, not voluntary guidelines. Manufacturers must also be held financially responsible for the eco cleanup and victim restitution. The health agencies should provide doctors with clear protocols for screening exposed patients. 5. What keeps you motivated in this work? What drives me is fairness. People do not choose the water they drink and they consider it safe. Every day I hear from families who are frightened and frustrated, their resilience motivates me to keep pushing for accountability with PFAS. Protecting the communities from involuntary chemical exposure is, at its core, a matter of justice.