Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
PFAS are in waterproof outdoor gear, makeup, nonstick pans and even our soil. Living in Maine, you’ve almost certainly heard about them: the so-called "forever chemicals" that linger in our environment, well, forever.
But what exactly are PFAS? And why are they such a big problem in Maine? That’s what we’re diving into in this episode of Maine Explained.
Love what you see on Maine Public's YouTube channel? Like, comment, and support your local public media station by donating at mainepublic.org/donateyoutube
Production Credits:
Esta Pratt-Kielley — Host, Writer, Videographer, Supervising Producer
Kaitlyn Budion — Writer, Reporter
Tulley Hescock — Video Editor, Videographer
Nik Sparlin — Video Editor, Motion Graphics Designer
Lucy Santerre — Marketing and Promotion Support
Mark Simpson — Director of News and Public Affairs
Andrew Catalina — News Editor
Other materials, in order of appearance:
Storyblocks
Steve Walker
Shutterstock
Canva
Rebecca Conley - No-Till Farming | Assignment Maine
The Maine Department of Environmental Protection
Music by:
Benjamin McAvoy and Stuart Thomas / DeWolfe Music
Maine Explained is a Maine Public production.
00:00 Intro
00:41 What are PFAS?
01:29 PFAS Contamination
02:05 The Sludge Problem
03:16 What's Being Done?
04:06 PFAS Testing
05:25 Health Impacts
06:24 Are PFAS really forever?
07:00 Expert Recommendations
07:47 Final Thoughts
08:27 Credits
PFAS are in waterproof outdoor gear, makeup, nonstick pans and even our soil. Living in Maine, you’ve almost certainly heard about them: the so-called "forever chemicals" that linger in our environment, well, forever.
But what exactly are PFAS? And why are they such a big problem in Maine? That’s what we’re diving into in this episode of Maine Explained.
Love what you see on Maine Public's YouTube channel? Like, comment, and support your local public media station by donating at mainepublic.org/donateyoutube
Production Credits:
Esta Pratt-Kielley — Host, Writer, Videographer, Supervising Producer
Kaitlyn Budion — Writer, Reporter
Tulley Hescock — Video Editor, Videographer
Nik Sparlin — Video Editor, Motion Graphics Designer
Lucy Santerre — Marketing and Promotion Support
Mark Simpson — Director of News and Public Affairs
Andrew Catalina — News Editor
Other materials, in order of appearance:
Storyblocks
Steve Walker
Shutterstock
Canva
Rebecca Conley - No-Till Farming | Assignment Maine
The Maine Department of Environmental Protection
Music by:
Benjamin McAvoy and Stuart Thomas / DeWolfe Music
Maine Explained is a Maine Public production.
00:00 Intro
00:41 What are PFAS?
01:29 PFAS Contamination
02:05 The Sludge Problem
03:16 What's Being Done?
04:06 PFAS Testing
05:25 Health Impacts
06:24 Are PFAS really forever?
07:00 Expert Recommendations
07:47 Final Thoughts
08:27 Credits
