"There's a lot of destruction that needs to be done," sums up Parker Bovée of Cleantech Group, a research and consulting firm.
He is referring to PFAS (Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances), also known as "forever chemicals".
These man-made chemicals can be found in items such as waterproof clothing, non-stick pans, lipsticks and food packaging.
They are used for their grease and water repellence, but do not degrade quickly and have been linked to health issues such as higher risks of certain cancers and reproductive problems.
The extraordinarily strong carbon-fluorine bonds they contain gives them the ability to persist for decades or even centuries in nature.
