Wildlife officials in Maine have issued a “do not eat wildlife consumption advisory” in several communities in the central part of the state over the possibility of harmful chemicals in animal meat.
The warning from the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife arrives during the state’s hunting season, and it came after the department said in a statement that it found levels of PFAS in the muscle tissue of sampled wildlife in several areas.
What Are PFAS?
PFAS, or per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances, are a class of chemicals that can be found in a range of everyday products , including nonstick cookware, firefighting foams, grease-resistant food wrappers and water-resistant clothing.
They are nicknamed “forever chemicals” because they break down very slowly over time and stick around in their surrounding environment. As a result, PFAS can be found in soil, oceans and waterways around the world…