According to new research, some PFAS are “far more acidic than previously thought.” As reported by the Royal Society of Chemistry, researchers at the University of Buffalo in New York found that, “previous measurements have underestimated the acidity of PFAS chemicals[; and, c]onsequently . . . the ability of these substances to persist and spread in the environment has also been mischaracterised.”
The volume of PFAS in the environment and the health risks associated with these “forever chemicals” were already significant—so this is a potentially significant development. As more PFAS lawsuits continue to get filed across the country, this new research may provide even more support for plaintiffs’ claims.