Jean MacRae, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of Maine, spoke to the about the presence of 鈥渇orever chemicals鈥 in Teflon plumber鈥檚 tape, which is used to fill the spaces between interlocking pipe threads to seal the pipes and prevent leaks. The tape is made with a likely carcinogen called perfluorooctanoic acid, more commonly called PFOA, which is a type of 鈥渇orever chemical鈥 that has contaminated community water supplies and private wells across Maine and the country. MacRae says that plumber鈥檚 tape is unlikely a major source of contamination, especially given all the other potential sources of PFAS now in the environment. The toxic chemicals have been found in rainwater across the world, in addition to household dust. 鈥淚t鈥檚 possible the tape is contributing to contamination in drinking water, but I would think it鈥檚 surely not going to be just that,鈥 MacRae said.
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