Forever Chemicals

(Airs 02/13/26 @ 10 p.m.) The Legislative Gazette is a weekly program about New York State Government and politics. On this week’s Gazette: State Senators in New York celebrate the passage of two bills regulating toxic "forever" chemicals, we’ll talk with Lola Brabham, President of The Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities (CICU) about this week’s Student Aid Advocacy Day, and we’ll take a closer look at an ICE immigration facility in Orange County.

PFAS – per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances – otherwise known as forever chemicals – are man-made chemicals known for their extreme persistence. They resist breaking down in the environment and in the human body and have led to widespread contamination in water, soil, and unfortunately in human blood. They are used in non-stick cookware, waterproof clothing, food packaging, and firefighting foams. PFAS have been linked to serious health issues like cancers, thyroid disease, and reproductive problems.