Report estimates global economy's cost of 'forever chemicals' at $17.5tn.

The societal cost of using toxic PFAS or “forever chemicals” across the global economy totals about $17.5tn annually, while the chemicals yield comparatively paltry profits for the world’s largest PFAS manufacturers – about $4bn annually, according to a report by ChemSec. The report aims to highlight how the “astronomical” cost of using PFAS is shouldered by governments typically forced to fund the clean up of pollution and individuals who suffer from health consequences. PFAS are a class of about 15,000 chemicals often used to make products resistant to water, stains and heat.