Forever Chemicals

Carla Ng

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as PFAS, appear daily in the news. Dubbed “forever chemicals” because they do not break down, the compounds are linked to an increasing number of diseases, including kidney cancer. Because of PFAS’ non-stick and stain- and waterproof properties, they are found in a vast array of products as diverse as electronics, fabrics, dental floss, and firefighting foam. 

PFAS are so pervasive that the problem of removing them seems almost too big to think about. That reaction is familiar to Carla Ng, associate professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, who has become a prominent public voice on PFAS within the research community and beyond.

Work is being done at the policy and industry level to phase out PFAS. Ng cites an NSF Convergence Accelerator project led by IBM to find less-hazardous alternatives for manufacturing microchips. Some companies now advertise their products as being free from PFAS, including clothing and outdoor gear manufacturers. California is banning PFAS in materials like fast food containers, creating market forces in which startups can thrive to meet the public demand for replacements.

Working at the intersection of engineering and public health, including regional soil and water sampling projects, Ng values the interdisciplinary culture at Pitt. “It’s hard to do science today without collaborating, and that collaborative environment is one of the reasons I came to Pitt.”