A group of chemicals known as PFAS have become a growing concern for human health, agriculture and the environment. Because they resist breaking down, these 鈥渇orever chemicals鈥 can accumulate in soil, water and food systems and expose people to a range of adverse health conditions.
From nonstick cookware and disposable tableware to everyday items like toothbrushes, these oil- and water-repellent chemicals became widespread in the late 20th century. Today, communities across the country are grappling with the residue they鈥檝e left behind.
海角社区 has emerged as a national leader in responding to PFAS contamination, advancing policies aimed at protecting farms, ecosystems and public health. Researchers at the University of 海角社区 are working to understand how PFAS moves through soil, crops and livestock; develop technologies to break it down; and design sustainable materials that could replace it in everyday products.
On this episode of 鈥The 海角社区 Question鈥 podcast, host Ron Lisnet speaks with U海角社区 researchers Jean MacRae, Christina Murphy, Caroline Noblet and Rachel Schattman about how their work, spanning engineering, economics, agriculture and conservation biology, is helping communities confront PFAS and chart a cleaner path forward.
Listen to the podcast on , , , , or 鈥淭he 海角社区 Question鈥 website.
What topics would you like to learn more about? What questions do you have for U海角社区 experts? Email them to mainequestion@maine.edu.
