MIDDLEBORO — How much should people worry about “forever chemicals”? And what can they do about them?

Two experts on this class of chemicals will be speaking on “How to Reduce PFAS in Your Home and in Our Town,” on Wednesday, April 2, at 7 p.m., at Middleboro Town Hall. The free workshop is cosponsored by Sustainable Middleboro and Citizens for a Healthy Middleboro.

PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, never break down and have been shown to cause cancer, thyroid disease, liver damage, as well as hormone, immune, developmental, and other health issues.

Dr. Laurel Schaider of the Silent Spring Institute, who studies the health impacts in Massachusetts towns with high PFAS levels, will discuss how to assess risks and what can be done about them.

Laura Spark of Clean Water Action will speak about local and state policy that can mitigate PFAS and prevent its use in residential and commercial products. Massachusetts isin a minority of states that have not banned PFAS in products, though a bill has been filed in the current legislative cycle.

The workshop will cover whether and how to test and filter water and how to avoid products with PFAS. These “forever chemicals” are commonly used in nonstick cookware, stain-resistant fabrics, waterproof raincoats and other gear, and many other common household products, such as dental floss, ski and floor wax, pharmaceuticals and packaging.

In 2024 the town notified residents that one of its largest public wells tested above a new 2020 state standard of 20 parts per trillion for PFAS6, the sum of 6 chemicals: PFOS, PFOA, PFHxS, PFNA, PFHpA, and PFDA. 

People who have compromised immune systems, who are pregnant or nursing, and young children are advised not to consume water when PFAS is greater than 20 parts per trillion.

“Our town took a big step to mitigate PFAS in our drinking water by appropriating funding last year for a new treatment plant. But that is only one step, and only part of the problem,” said Kimberly French, board president of Sustainable Middleboro. “As a community, we also need to turn off the tap that brings new products containing PFAS into our town.” 

The select board agreed at its March 17 meeting to eliminate the use of products containing PFAS whenever possible.