Building Futures is about spotlighting projects and innovations that create lasting positive change in the building community and beyond.
This edition examines how the production and disposal of “forever chemicals” may impact the Chicago metro area.
My professional career has revolved around building projects. Nearly every one of them has assumed access to a functioning power, sewer, transportation, or internet grid. Yet, these systems have been neglected for decades. Driving through Chicago today can be frustrating due to traffic, but also encouraging, as we witness major upgrades to highways, rail systems, stations, bridges, and data centers. We’re in the early stages of rethinking and rebuilding the infrastructure that supports how we live, work, and play. Building Futures will begin by focusing on this core infrastructure and later pivot to future innovations.
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), nicknamed “forever chemicals,” are nearly indestructible due to their strong carbon-fluorine bonds. Originally created to solve industrial and consumer problems—like non-stick surfaces, stain resistance, and firefighting foams—PFAS have since revealed serious environmental and health risks.
These chemicals are now found in groundwater and sewer systems. In Chicago, the MWRD recycles bio-solids into fertilizer spread on farms and golf courses, unknowingly introducing PFAS into the soil. Setting acceptable PFAS levels has been mired in politics, but regulation is finally taking shape.
Promisingly, scientists recently discovered a bacterium capable of breaking the PFAS bond in some compounds. The enzyme responsible offers hope that cleanup solutions can be developed and scaled.
As with many innovations, PFAS began with good intentions and led to unintended harm. The cleanup process will take decades, much like the Superfund sites identified in the 1980s—around 1,900 nationally, 20 in the Chicago area.
PFAS site numbers are likely to rise, but with continued scientific advancement, we can work toward a cleaner, more sustainable future for generations to come.
Photo 1: Shows how the bacterium might be able to be introduced to clean-up PFAS contamination
Photo 2: Shows multiple uses industrial and manufacturing uses for PFAS materials
Photo 3: Shows a PFAS chemical production plant
BF: Waste – Forever Chemicals
