As the old saying goes: “Nothing lasts forever.” Then again, in the early 20th century, a newly discovered class of chemicals was on track to give lie to that maxim. With unprecedented stability and staying power, and potentially limitless applications, perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances—known collectively as PFAS chemicals—have been fixtures in countless industrial, commercial and consumer products for decades.

But today, PFAS compounds once heralded as modern miracles are now known to have a wide range of potentially negative effects on human health. Introduced into the environment, and ultimately into the human body, PFAS compounds are incredibly resistant to natural breakdown processes. Once present, they are essentially there forever, with ongoing risk implications for businesses in many industries.

In this report, Zurich explores the history of PFAS substances, how they became so integral to modern life, the health risks we now know they represent, and what businesses can do to mitigate PFAS risks that could be with us forever and a day.