Invisible Chemicals, Visible Consequences: Rethinking PFAS Through the Lens of Human Impact and Environmental Design

Communities around the world are confronting a growing environmental reality, one that is largely invisible in daily life yet increasingly documented in scientific literature. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a class of synthetic chemicals used in industrial and consumer applications for decades, have drawn heightened research attention because of their persistence in environmental and biological systems.

Rather than breaking down naturally, these compounds can remain in water, soil, and living organisms for extended periods. Over time, that persistence has shifted PFAS from a manufacturing discussion to a public health and environmental planning concern. Researchers continue to study how exposure occurs and what long-term implications may exist for human populations.

According to research, certain PFAS compounds have been studied in connection with immune system responses, metabolic changes, and developmental considerations, particularly when exposure occurs during prenatal or early childhood stages. Early investigations drew attention to potential relationships between PFAS exposure and outcomes such as attention regulation and cognitive development in children, prompting expanded scientific inquiry across epidemiological and clinical research settings.

Importantly, these findings are generally presented as associations rather than definitive causal pathways, reflecting the complexity of environmental exposure science. Despite the growth in literature, much of it initially motivated by concerning early observations, more recent meta-analyses and systematic reviews have highlighted inconsistencies in the evidence base, particularly regarding outcomes such as cognition, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

From Ray Goldsby's perspective, the human dimension of this issue is what makes the conversation urgent. As CEO of Just Add Wetlands (JAW) and Wetland Extent Landward, environmental organizations specializing in wetland restoration, delineation, and engineered ecological system design, he views PFAS less as an abstract chemical problem and more as a societal one. "When people begin to understand where exposure pathways exist, the conversation changes," Goldsby explains. "It stops being theoretical and becomes personal."

He points to the breadth of dispersion as one of the defining challenges. PFAS compounds have been detected across water systems, wildlife populations, and agricultural environments, illustrating how exposure is not limited to industrial zones. From his viewpoint, this ubiquity makes public awareness both more difficult and more necessary, with 32% of US Citizens unaware of what PFAS are.

"Indicators have been identified in locations far removed from where these materials were originally produced, which underscores how extensively they circulate through environmental systems," he says. "When compounds travel across water, soil, and wildlife pathways in this way, it broadens the scope of concern well beyond any single geography or industry."

Yet awareness does not always mirror prevalence. Research suggests that public familiarity with PFAS terminology and exposure pathways remains uneven, creating what Goldsby describes as a response gap. Without a foundational understanding, communities may struggle to evaluate mitigation strategies or support environmental initiatives. That is where he believes that the scenario must shift from detection to resolution.

According to Goldsby, addressing PFAS requires layered thinking that includes education, infrastructure, and ecological design working in tandem. "Awareness is the starting point," he says. "But awareness alone doesn't solve anything. It has to translate into environmental action." Within that action framework, his organization focuses on wetlands, ecosystems historically valued for biodiversity but increasingly studied for their hydrologic and biogeochemical functions.

JAW works with landowners, conservation planners, and environmental stakeholders to restore and construct wetlands capable of supporting water filtration, habitat resilience, and ecological balance. The organization's projects span delineation services, restoration planning, and long-term environmental land management.

Goldsby uses a biological metaphor to explain their relevance. "Wetlands function much like the Earth's kidneys," he says. "Within these ecosystems, hydric soils, plant systems, and microbial environments work together through natural biochemical processes to filter, transform, and, in some cases, help break down contaminants moving through water systems."

Scientifically, Goldsby explains that wetlands operate through dynamic soil chemistry, particularly redox reactions that occur as water levels fluctuate between oxygen-rich and oxygen-limited states. These reactions, he notes, support microbial processes capable of altering chemical compounds over time.

Research into PFAS remediation is still evolving, but Goldsby believes ecological systems deserve deeper exploration within that field. From his perspective, wetlands represent one component of a broader environmental response portfolio, working alongside engineered, regulatory, and technological interventions. However, he is careful not to position wetlands as a singular solution.

Instead, he frames them as a natural system whose value has historically been underestimated. Public perception has often labeled wetlands as unusable, a misconception that he believes limits investment in ecological infrastructure. "Wetlands are not wasted space," Goldsby says. "They are productive systems that serve both environmental and human health functions."

That reframing sits at the core of his advocacy work. Through speaking engagements, educational outreach, and environmental planning initiatives, he aims to expand both scientific literacy and ecological stewardship. The broader PFAS challenge, he notes, requires exactly that kind of integrated response. Exposure pathways span water, food systems, and ecological networks, meaning resolution must operate across those same interconnected layers.

He considers that PFAS may originate in manufacturing processes, but their implications extend into households, communities, and future generations. Addressing the issue, therefore, becomes not just a regulatory or technological undertaking, but a societal one.

From education to environmental design, the pathway forward may ultimately depend on how effectively awareness converts into action, transforming scientific understanding into systems capable of protecting our food supply, our ecosystems, and the people who depend on them. "Once society recognizes the scale of the challenge, it begins to pursue solutions with greater urgency," Goldsby says. "And that's when meaningful progress becomes plausible."