Over the past 20 years many PFAS chemicals have been phased out of manufacturing contexts following a robust body of evidence revealing potentially toxic effects for human health. However, PFAS have often been referred to as "forever chemicals" due to their long-lasting effects in our environment, and just because we stopped using a few of these chemicals doesn't mean they have instantly disappeared from our world.

A new article published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology has found recommended safe PFAS levels have consistently dropped in recent years, as we learned more about how toxic these chemicals actually are. And now, many guidelines recommend safe PFAS levels that are below the baseline levels in the natural environment.