Beyond PFAS: The Next “Forever Chemicals” Under Scrutiny

Sep 2

For decades, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been the poster child of “forever chemicals”—persistent compounds resistant to degradation, found in water, soil, consumer products, and even human bloodstreams. Their durability made them indispensable in coatings, electronics, and packaging, but also turned them into one of the most pressing environmental and regulatory concerns of the 21st century.

Yet PFAS may only be the tip of the iceberg. As science advances and regulators strengthen chemical frameworks like REACH 2.0, the U.S. EPA’s Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), and Asia’s K-REACH, other persistent, mobile, and toxic (PMT) chemicals are now under the spotlight. These include chlorinated paraffins, cyclic siloxanes, and novel flame retardants—compounds that share PFAS-like resistance to degradation and bioaccumulation.

This article dives deep into:

Why PFAS are not the only forever chemicals.
Which other chemical families are emerging as regulatory concerns.
How AI-powered platforms like Chemcopilot can help organizations anticipate regulatory risks, manage compliance, and build sustainable innovation pipelines.

PFAS as a Case Study: A Global Wake-Up Call

PFAS entered widespread industrial use in the 1940s for their water, oil, and heat resistance. Today, over 12,000 PFAS variants exist in commerce, from firefighting foams to nonstick cookware. Their toxicological footprint is staggering: linked to cancer, immune suppression, thyroid disease, and reproductive issues.

Regulators have responded aggressively:

EU REACH 2.0: Proposed restrictions on nearly all PFAS uses.
US EPA: New drinking water standards for six PFAS compounds.
China & Korea: Expanding “PFAS-like” restrictions under chemical control laws.

But the PFAS crisis has revealed a larger truth: many synthetic compounds may follow the same trajectory once science and regulation catch up.

The Next “Forever Chemicals” on the Horizon

1. Chlorinated Paraffins (CPs)

Used in lubricants, flame retardants, and plasticizers, chlorinated paraffins are persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic. Short-chain CPs are already restricted in the EU and listed under the Stockholm Convention, but medium- and long-chain variants are now under review.

Key Risks:

High aquatic toxicity.
Bioaccumulation in fish and mammals.
Industrial ubiquity in PVC, paints, and sealants.

2. Cyclic Siloxanes (D4, D5, D6)

These compounds are widely used in cosmetics, personal care products, and industrial lubricants. While often marketed as “inert,” siloxanes are persistent in the environment and accumulate in living organisms.

Regulatory Actions:

EU restriction of D4 and D5 in wash-off cosmetics.
Ongoing debates about broader bans due to environmental persistence.

3. Novel Flame Retardants (NFRs)

As traditional polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were phased out, industry shifted to “safer” alternatives. However, many novel flame retardants show similar persistence and toxicity profiles.

Concerns:

Found in indoor dust, posing long-term exposure risks.
Resistant to degradation in soil and sediments.
Potential endocrine disruptors.

4. Perfluoroether Carboxylic Acids (PFECAs)

Marketed as PFAS replacements (e.g., GenX), PFECAs were designed to sidestep bans. But early studies show they are just as persistent, raising questions about “regrettable substitution.”

5. Microplastics & Nanoplastics

Not classical chemicals, but increasingly classified as persistent environmental pollutants. Their ability to accumulate in ecosystems mirrors PFAS concerns, and regulators are moving toward microplastic bans in cosmetics, packaging, and agriculture.

Why These Chemicals Matter for Industry

The growing list of persistent substances has major implications for the chemical, pharmaceutical, food, and textile industries:

Supply Chain Risks: Materials widely used today may face sudden bans tomorrow.
Product Redesign: Companies must proactively develop alternatives that meet safety and sustainability standards.
Compliance Burden: Regulatory dossiers are expanding in scope and complexity, requiring advanced documentation and real-time updates.
Reputation Management: Being linked to “next PFAS” compounds can cause severe brand damage.

In this context, waiting for regulators to act is not an option. Companies must anticipate risks before restrictions hit.

How AI Can Anticipate the Next Forever Chemicals

1. Predictive Toxicology & QSAR Models

AI-based QSAR (Quantitative Structure–Activity Relationship) models predict whether new compounds share PFAS-like persistence and toxicity—before they hit the market. This enables designing safer molecules from the start.

2. Global Regulation Monitoring

AI scrapes regulatory databases, government updates, and scientific literature to map emerging substances of concern across regions. Companies can anticipate which compounds are next in line for restriction.

3. Lifecycle & Sustainability Assessment

Platforms like Chemcopilot integrate CO₂ footprint analysis with hazard and persistence scoring, giving R&D teams a holistic view of both regulatory and sustainability impacts.

4. Compliance Automation

Instead of manual SDS generation and dossier preparation, AI automates these workflows, ensuring documentation is always up to date with REACH 2.0, TSCA, and K-REACH requirements.

5. Supplier Transparency

AI-driven data ingestion ensures compliance data flows seamlessly across the supply chain, reducing the risk of hidden “forever chemicals” in formulations.

Chemcopilot in Practice: From Compliance to Innovation

At Chemcopilot, our mission is not just to help companies comply with evolving regulations but to future-proof their innovation strategies.

Our platform provides:

Substance watchlists powered by AI, highlighting chemicals at risk of regulation.
Integrated CO₂ and hazard dashboards, enabling sustainability-driven R&D.
Automated global compliance mapping, reducing duplication of effort.
Predictive analytics, showing which compounds are likely to face scrutiny in the next 5–10 years.

This allows chemical companies to move beyond reactive compliance toward proactive leadership in sustainability.

Preparing for the Next Wave of Restrictions

Regulators worldwide are moving toward a class-based approach, targeting entire families of persistent chemicals rather than individual compounds. This trend will accelerate as sustainability frameworks expand under:

EU Green Deal
Global Plastics Treaty
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

To thrive, companies need to:

Invest in AI and digital compliance tools (like Chemcopilot).
Embed sustainability metrics in product design.
Build collaborative supply chain transparency.
Monitor scientific and regulatory signals continuously.

Those who act now will avoid the pitfalls of PFAS-like crises in the future.

Conclusion

PFAS may have sparked the “forever chemicals” debate, but they are not alone. From chlorinated paraffins to siloxanes and novel flame retardants, the list of persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic chemicals under scrutiny is growing rapidly.

Companies that rely on outdated, manual compliance processes risk falling behind. The future belongs to organizations that leverage AI-powered platforms like Chemcopilot to anticipate regulation, automate compliance, and design safer, sustainable products.

By connecting compliance with sustainability and innovation, the chemical industry can move beyond the PFAS crisis—and avoid repeating history with the next generation of forever chemicals.

Relleated article: PFAS Crisis

Ananth Avva