It seems like forever that perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been under scrutiny by regulatory agencies in the U.S. and EU. But that is not why they are colloquially referred to as forever chemicals. Being chemically and thermally stable, there are limited chemical degradation pathways available for PFAS. Furthermore, being synthetic there is no natural biochemical pathway for nature to digest these materials; so they tend to build up in nature.
There are many reports, including very recent ones that discuss melting polar ice,1 which show PFAS, and other long-lasting contaminants such as PCBs, in the environment and in animals all the way up the food chain, including humans. While many of these reports are from environmental groups, there are also many references in mainstream media and scientific literature that contribute to the debate.