“Forever Chemicals,” Real Consequences

PFAS, often called “forever chemicals”, are a large class of manufactured chemicals that persist in the environment and can accumulate in the human body over time. When PFAS enter drinking water, families can be exposed every day through something as basic as making coffee, mixing formula, or filling a glass at the sink.

For many people, the harm shows up as a medical crisis years later. For others, the fear is immediate: How long has this been in the water, and what does it mean for our family? Toxic tort cases focus on whether this contamination was preventable, whether responsible parties failed to control releases, and whether they should pay for the damage and long-term risk they created.

Why PFAS exposure is treated as high stakes

Public health agencies continue to study PFAS, but authoritative reviews recognize associations between PFAS exposure and a range of health effects (with risk depending on dose, duration, and individual vulnerability).

In catastrophic injury terms, the concern is that long-term exposure may contribute to conditions that can become life-altering or fatal—serious cancers, organ disease, and immune-related complications—especially when exposure is sustained through drinking water.

What families can do when PFAS contamination is suspected

When there’s a serious contamination concern, early documentation helps protect health decisions and legal options:

• Document the “water history”: addresses, dates, and the water system used (municipal, private well, school/workplace supply).
• Save official notices and test results from water suppliers, municipalities, or state agencies.
• Keep medical records organized if there’s a diagnosis that could plausibly relate to long-term exposure (labs, imaging, pathology, treating physician notes).
• Don’t throw away filters or test kits used to measure or address PFAS; chain-of-custody can matter in contested cases.

EPA has published consumer-facing resources on PFAS in drinking water and reducing exposure, including filtration guidance.

A quiet crisis with lasting consequences

PFAS contamination is a quiet crisis, because it can enter the body through ordinary routines and stay there for years. When that exposure leads to catastrophic illness, or when a community’s water is compromised by preventable releases, accountability should not be optional.

McEldrew Purtell investigates PFAS water contamination cases as toxic tort matters: evidence-driven, science-aware, and focused on results that reflect the true cost to families and communities.