{"id":18117,"date":"2023-06-02T20:12:18","date_gmt":"2023-06-03T00:12:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/coastwatch\/?page_id=18117"},"modified":"2024-08-13T15:47:06","modified_gmt":"2024-08-13T19:47:06","slug":"pfas-in-the-tidal-creeks-of-southeastern-north-carolina","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ncseagrant.ncsu.edu\/coastwatch\/pfas-in-the-tidal-creeks-of-southeastern-north-carolina\/","title":{"rendered":"Emerging Contaminants: PFAS in the Tidal Creeks of Southeastern North Carolina"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n
Since the industrial revolution, the introduction of countless contaminants to the environment has led to a measurable chemical “pollution fingerprint” that is present in soil, water, air, and organisms. One of the most recent groups of contaminants that have become a part of that chemical pollution fingerprint are perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
PFAS include thousands of man-made organic compounds with unique characteristics \u2014 such as high thermal stability, water and oil repellency, and other properties \u2014 which makes them useful for products like aqueous film-forming foams, nonstick coatings, fast food wrappers, and water-resistant clothing. The properties that make PFAS useful also make them very mobile and resistant to breaking down in the environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Widespread production and use, combined with limited enforceable regulations since the 1940s, has led to a global distribution of PFAS. Today, PFAS can be found in nearly every corner of the globe, even places that are far from any known sources.<\/p>\n\n\n