Production: Who Makes PFAS

The History of PFAS

PFAS, also known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, have had a complex history. The very first PFAS type, known as polychlorotrifluoroethylene (PCTFE), was uncovered in 1934 by chemists researching fluoridated gases at the German company known as IG Farben, according to Samora. This finding occurred in the same year that Bonnie and Clyde were famously killed by police, according to the FBI. Although these two events aren’t related, there is a sobering reality to the fact that the pervasive PFAS issue had such an early start in history.

The Era of Teflon

It was only a few years later that two DuPont employees unwittingly discovered polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), which eventually became trademarked by DuPont as the household name Teflon. Over the next decade or so, various stakeholders worked both collaboratively and competitively to bolster PFAS production. The ability to do this for companies was a privilege at this point in history, where the trailblazing research and  incorporation of PFAS was becoming incredibly lucrative in the mid-twentieth century, according to Poffenberger.

War Time Efforts & PFAS

The Manhattan Project allowed another crucial opportunity for PFAS to be used in efforts to properly manage and contain extremely corrosive uranium hexafluoride, according to Samora. In other words, without PFAS to thank, we may not have the same atomic weapon sophistication or proliferation today. 

Industrial Boom

PFAS had an increasingly pervasive presence as the twentieth century unfolded. What was once considered a niche manufacturing tool became more and more popular in a variety of markets. This included household items purchased regularly by consumers, such as shampoos, conditioners, cosmetics, clothing, nonstick pots and pans, & various cleaning products (just to name a few).

Consumption

In many cases, PFAS are processed through either inhalation, by consuming tainted foods, or by the use of products that contain PFAS, according to Craig T. Liljestrand. It is difficult to imagine having a functional day in our industrialized world without coming into contact with PFAS in some manner. According to the Washington State Department of Health, the pervasiveness of these chemicals is astonishing, with PFAS being found, either previously or currently, in different kinds of fabric and rugs, hygiene products, and even clothing.

Manufacturers

Since the discovery of PFAS in the 1930s, as well as the exponential proliferation of these pesky and persistent chemicals in everyday consumer products, there are fewer production companies that have been primarly responsible than one might expect. There are currently only twelve main companies that generate the bulk of the world’s PFAS, according to Chemsec, the International Chemical Secretariat. These companies are as follows: