{"694037":{"#nid":"694037","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Demystifying \u2018Forever Chemicals\u2019: Building PFAS Solutions for Georgia","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EJust over an hour outside Atlanta, Dalton \u2013 Georgia\u2019s so-called \u201cCarpet Capital of the World\u201d \u2013 has become a focal point for concerns about PFAS, a group of long-lasting industrial chemicals increasingly found in waterways and drinking water.\u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWhile PFAS contamination has drawn widespread attention, researchers at the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) are working on practical solutions to improve how these chemicals are detected, removed from water, and ultimately destroyed. Their work focuses on three key areas: detection, removal, and destruction technologies that aim to give utilities, businesses, and communities clearer, faster insight into where PFAS is \u2014 and what to do about it. \u0026nbsp;\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a large family of human-made chemicals that includes thousands of different compounds. They have been used for around nine decades to make products resistant to water, stains, and heat. They show up in many items, ranging from firefighting foams, dental floss, and carpets to nonstick cookware and outdoor clothing. PFAS materials don\u2019t break down easily in the environment, possibly persisting for hundreds or even thousands of years.\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EStudies have linked PFAS exposure to serious health risks, including some cancers, immune system effects, and heart disease. But unlike many contaminants, the primary concern about these chemicals is not a single, high-level exposure. Instead, it\u2019s long-term, low-level exposure. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/gtri.gatech.edu\/newsroom\/demystifying-forever-chemicals-how-gtri-building-pfas-solutions-georgia\u0022\u003ERead more in the GTRI Newsroom\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech Research Institute researchers are developing new ways to detect, remove, and break down PFAS chemicals, helping Georgia communities better understand and manage contamination risks.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Researchers are developing new ways to detect, remove, and break down industrial chemicals known as PFAS."}],"uid":"27303","created_gmt":"2026-11-12 14:56:31","changed_gmt":"2026-11-12 15:00:57","author":"John Toon","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-11-12T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2026-11-12T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"681772":{"id":"681772","type":"image","title":"PFAS contamination can affect waterways and even drinking water.","body":"\u003Cp\u003EPFAS, a group of long-lasting industrial chemicals, can affect drinking water. (iStockPhoto)\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1794494742","gmt_created":"2026-11-12 14:45:42","changed":"1794495045","gmt_changed":"2026-11-12 14:50:45","alt":"Water from a faucet pours into a glass","file":{"fid":"266225","name":"iStock-2175405622-cropped.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/11\/12\/iStock-2175405622-cropped.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/11\/12\/iStock-2175405622-cropped.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":485642,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/11\/12\/iStock-2175405622-cropped.jpg?itok=UupQP8Ta"}}},"media_ids":["681772"],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"154","name":"Environment"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"}],"core_research_areas":[],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EJohn Toon\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["gtri.media@gtri.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}