< 1 -MINUTE READ

Northwestern U. Chemists Discover Simple Way to Destroy ‘Forever Chemicals’

Sep 6, 2022

PFAS (per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances), commonly used manufactured chemicals, are often called “forever chemicals,” because they can’t be safely destroyed and take thousands of years to break down naturally. 

Found in everything from our drinking water to common household products like cookware, cosmetics, and upholstery fabrics, PFAS have been deemed unsafe by the Environmental Protection Agency. PFAS are linked to many dangerous health conditions—including certain types of cancer, decreased fertility, developmental problems. It’s estimated that an alarming 97% of Americans have PFAS in their bloodstream.

The indestructibility of PFAS lies in their chemical bonds, which happen to be the strongest bonds in organic chemistry. Historically, only a few options exist for disposing of PFAS, including using high temperatures, pressures, or other methods that require excessive energy.

As outlined in this article, Northwestern University chemists have now identified a safe way to destroy one of the latest classes of PFAS using low temperatures and an inexpensive reagent. Due to its simplicity and affordability, this solution has potential for widespread use.

These chemists have successfully determined how to destroy 10 types of PFSA, but there are 12,000 total PFAS compounds.   

While they still have a long way to go, this is a very encouraging start. This discovery gives researchers hope that there are solutions to more easily destroy other types of PFAS, as well. The Northwestern research team is continuing to look for weaknesses in other PFAS classes to determine how they can also be destroyed. Ten down, 11,990 to go!

Jencap has extensive experience with environmental insurance challenges, including the liability concerns associated with PFAS. Contact us today for more information.

The Jencap Environmental Insurance Team

The Jencap Environmental Insurance Team

Jencap’s team of environmental underwriters have dedicated their entire careers to the environmental sector — they are environmental professionals that happen to sell insurance. Our brokers have backgrounds as environmental consultants and geologists, which gives you and your clients a significant advantage. When it comes to environmental coverage, you don’t want a generalist broker. With the Jencap team, you can trust our brokers have worked every angle of the environmental industry and can customize our exclusive program capabilities for any environmental coverage need.
chemicals | environmental insurance | environmental liability | trends

EXPLORE FURTHER

TRENDS & WHITE PAPERS

Jencap Cannabis Insurance Insights

The Jencap Weather Report: How Climate Change is Shifting the Insurance Industry

From wildfires to hurricanes, weather-related disasters are tallying unprecedented losses. Here’s how climate change is impacting insurance coverage.

WHITE PAPER | Q3 2022 | 17 MINUTES

RECENT POSTS

INDUSTRY TOPICS

PUT JENCAP TO WORK FOR YOU

Whether they realize it or not, most every business has some sort of environmental exposure. It’s more important than ever for companies to evaluate their environmental risk profile and secure appropriate insurance coverage. At Jencap, we don’t have generalist brokers; our dedicated team of environmental brokers has worked every angle of the environmental industry and knows it inside and out. By partnering with Jencap, you’ll have an industry-leading wholesaler on your side, working with you and your clients to secure the coverage — and peace of mind — your clients need.

Stay Informed

Want to receive information from Jencap on timely marketplace trends, hot new product and program launches, and valuable product expertise that will set you up to win? Sign up below to receive email communications from Jencap.

Name(Required)
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.