Insurance brokers who operate in the environmental liability space, and insureds with potential pollution exposures, are now well-versed in the research and risks linked to "forever chemicals."

Also known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS or PFASs), these compounds have long been used in manufacturing because they resist heat, oil, stains, grease and water. From cookware to fire-fighting gear, the practical applications are vast, and so the chemicals continue to be popular in the United States despite the science linking them to environmental and health concerns including cancer.

Several nations worldwide are beginning to phase out PFAS. But with a market valued at roughly $28 billion in 2023, PFAS use is in the U.S. continues even as billions of dollars are directed toward litigation and settlements. Among them: $671 million paid by DuPont to settle 3,550 personal injury claims in West Virginia after PFAS were released into the drinking water there, and $10.3 billion paid by 3M to several public water providers in the U.S.