‘Forever chemicals’ found across Maine offer a lesson: Be careful what you wish for

BANGOR DAILY NEWS • December 30, 2021

The story of PFAS is like a children’s fairy tale—a miraculous gift from a benevolent genie that comes with hidden dangers. It is a tale with a moral that your parents told you many times when you were young: be careful what you wish for. As a doctor, I adhere to the “precautionary principle”—we should avoid substances unless they are proven safe. Maine is currently leading the world in restricting the use of at least some PFAS compounds. This is the result of a great deal of hard work by citizen groups and legislators. We can be proud that Maine is leading the pack but there is still a long way to go to ensure our safety. ~ Geoff Gratwick