What are PFAS? Richard Aylen explains why we should be worried and what is being done about them?
IF you haven’t yet heard of PFAS then it’s likely that soon you will. These are chemicals that are used in all walks of life, including construction and the flooring industry. The issues that surround them will impact manufacturers of many products within multiple market sectors.
What are PFAS?
PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are synthetic chemicals that have been nicknamed ‘forever chemicals’. Awareness of these chemicals, and their effects upon living organisms and the environment is increasing, within industry and among the general public.
Many environmental and health experts have raised concerns about the medical issues they cause, the way they can easily migrate from one environment to another and the fact that they do not readily degrade.
PFAS are known to have harmful effects on living organisms, including humans. They’re not new, and in fact have been used in a diverse range of products since the ‘50s. They are largely manmade and so over the years new ones have been engineered according to manufacturers’ and consumers’ needs.
They’re widely used because they improve the performance of the products we buy. Benefits include water and stain resistance, heat resistance, and resistance to grease and oils.
The definition of what makes a chemical a PFAS can vary between organisations, but it is generally agreed there are several thousand types in current use. One thing they all have in common is they’re made from fluorine atoms attached to carbon chains, which makes them very durable in the environment.
Where are they found?
Many everyday consumer products contain PFAS. One of the earliest developments was Teflon which we know as a non-stick coating for pans. You will also find them in waterproof cosmetics, food packaging including pizza boxes and popcorn bags (for grease resistance), dental floss and shampoo.
You’ll also find them in the stain resistant treatments applied to carpets, furniture and other textiles. If you own outdoor clothing PFAS are added to the spray- on water-repellent coating and for the breathable membrane that lines the garment.
In the construction industry they’re found in waterproof coatings for roofs and cladding, ‘easy clean’ coatings on glass, mastic, adhesives and sealants, cable sleeving, plumber’s PTFE tape, solar panels and artificial turf. When added to liquids, such as paints they can help the product flow out evenly and wet the material they are being applied to, as well as improving stain resistance.
I think it’s reasonably certain that every one of us has encountered or used PFAS-containing products at one time or another.
Why are we concerned about PFAS?
PFAS have been linked with numerous medical conditions including increased risk of kidney and testicular cancers. They have also been linked to elevated cholesterol levels, reduced immunity response, hormonal issues and low birth weight in babies.
The second issue is that these chemicals can spread easily through the environment. When PFAS-containing products degrade they can find their way into watercourses, air, soil and eventually the food chain, animals and humans.
PFAS are often referred to as ‘forever chemicals’ because they’re highly resistant to degradation. This means that if we ingest them, they are in our bodies for a long time, and so they increase the risk of illness. The longer they remain in the environment the further they can spread.
Clothing, camping, outdoor equipment and marine clothing are among numerous groups of products where suppliers are using ‘PFAS free’ as a prominent element in their marketing. This is becoming increasingly common, helping to raise awareness and driving consumers to choose ‘PFAS free’ products.
Are there any controls or restrictions on the use of PFAS?
The number of conversations about PFAS is growing, and so are concerns about their effect. Global research is being done to better understand the issues that surround them and to look at the possibility of legislation to restrict their use. In the USA legislation has been passed to ban the use of certain chemicals in cookware and food packaging and this is an ongoing process.
In the UK there is, as yet no legislation that bans or controls their use. To date any action that has been taken has been largely voluntary and has been in the interests of protecting people from harm, raising awareness and in the case of some manufacturers, taking pre-emptive action to remove PFAS in the knowledge that controls and legislation will probably be imposed soon.
In February 2026 the Health and safety Executive (HSE) in the UK concluded a consultation on firefighting foams but the results of this haven’t been published yet. The UK government’s ‘Environmental Improvement Plan 2025’ promised to take action on PFAS but again nothing has happened so far. This initiative was instigated by the Starmer government and so we cannot be certain at the time of writing that the Burnham government will continue with it.
Flooring products and PFAS
In the UK flooring industry PFAS are found in water and stain resisting treatments on textile and resilient flooring. They are also used in wood floor lacquers to aid flow and levelling and for stain resistance. Some cleaning products such as general cleaners, polishes and strippers contain PFAS and some vinyl floor coverings use the chemicals during their manufacturing processes.
Exposure to forever chemicals arising from flooring products can happen in a number of ways. As far as stain resistant treatments for carpets etc in factories where PFAS are used operatives who handle the substances are at risk, though in a modern factory in developed parts of the world, one would hope that workers would be protected from exposure.
For floor cleaning products, polishes lacquers, paints etc the environment is a little less controlled and the risk for the operative is higher. Breathing equipment to protect from dust, gloves to protect the skin can all be effective, but it’s for the operative to ensure these measures are used effectively and used PPE disposed of properly after use. When stripping up old floorcoverings there is a risk to operatives from dust and the method of disposal is important to avoid airborne particles, soil and water contamination.
My own company, Junckers has developed PFAS free floor lacquer products as a pre-emptive measure, in anticipation of future legislation under REACH which will ban PFAS in the types of products we manufacture. The risk of contamination with floor lacquers arises not only at the stage when the product is applied, but later on when the floor is sanded there will be a certain amount of old lacquer removed along with the sawdust generated by the sander.
Fine lacquer dust can easily find its way into the environment and may end up in watercourses, soil or the sea. Responsible contractors are beginning to seek out PFAS free floor coating products and in turn they are able to sell this as a benefit to their clients.
Looking ahead a stage further it will probably not be long before we see most major construction clients stating ‘PFAS free’ in their employers’ requirements, and architects and interior designers following suit when writing specifications.
Richard Aylen is technical manager, Junckers
