By Blewes Rush
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30 Nov, 2022
Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are man-made chemicals developed in the 1940s that have been used in consumer products and manufacturing processes worldwide ever since. Incredibly resistant, PFAS have been used to make water-repellent clothing, stain resistant fabrics, nonstick cookware and cosmetics, but also in the production of mRNA vaccines and semiconductors. Their very resistance however means they do not break down naturally and remain in the environment forever and, most concerning, can accumulate in living organisms leading to harmful health effects in humans such as increased risk of cancer, high cholesterol levels and changes in liver enzymes. In this interview Henrik Hagemann tells us how Puraffinity is tackling the PFAS crisis.