Inescapable: Facing Up to Forever Chemicals

MAINE ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS • August 10, 2026

Invisible and nearly indestructible, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have seeped into the blood of almost every American and permeated the natural world. Inescapable reveals how ordinary people are tackling the toxic impacts from this sprawling class of industrial compounds—long used in consumer products, building supplies, and firefighting foam and still widely produced. Journalist Marina Schauffler recounts how PFAS contamination in Maine, a state known for its bountiful farms, woods, and waters, has upended lives and livelihoods, endangered public health, and cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars. Maine is among states at the forefront of PFAS testing and regulation, but no region is immune from this chemical threat.