HealthAugust 15, 2026

polyfluoroalkyl

pah-lee-FLOOR-oh-AL-kil

Definition

Refers to a specific category of man-made chemical compounds containing multiple fluorine atoms attached to a carbon chain, often abbreviated as PFAS.

Etymology

The word is a chemical construction combining the Greek-derived prefix 'poly-' (meaning many) with 'fluoro-' (denoting the element fluorine) and 'alkyl' (a chemical radical derived from an alkane).

In the news

The article uses the term to identify the chemical composition of 'forever chemicals' found in Tiverton's wells, explaining the substance's resistance to environmental breakdown and skin absorption.

'A ticking time bomb' in Tiverton. More PFAS-tainted wells found

Read the full article ↗

Newport Daily News

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