BANGOR DAILY NEWS • May 21, 2021
Toxic substances known as “forever chemicals” have been found in high levels in wells and farms across Maine. This class of chemicals, which has been linked to a number of chronic illnesses, has entered the Maine food system. An unusual property of these substances that poses a risk to the Maine ecosystem is the fact that PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, never really go away — hence the nickname “forever chemicals.” For the average Mainer, the issue of PFAS might seem distant, but it is immediately impactful, and the chemical is almost impossible to avoid without proper regulation.