Forever Chemicals, Forever Damage: How the Carpet Industry Fueled PFAS Pollution

Feb 5
3 min read

For decades, PFAS were the chemical industry’s favorite flex. These lab-engineered compounds made carpets stain-proof, cookware nonstick, and fabrics basically immune to spills. The problem? PFAS doesn't break down. Ever. Which is why they’re now showing up in rivers, drinking water, wildlife, and human bloodstreams across the country.

Nowhere is that legacy more visible than in northwest Georgia, home to the multibillion-dollar carpet manufacturing industry. According to a recent investigation, the same chemicals that helped turn Dalton, Georgia, into the “Carpet Capital of the World” also left behind a toxic environmental mess that communities are still dealing with today.

How Carpet Manufacturing Helped Spread PFAS Everywhere

The carpet industry relied heavily on PFAS-based stain repellents for decades, coating millions of square yards of flooring with chemicals designed to resist water, oil, and basically everything else. Waste from those manufacturing processes didn’t disappear, it flowed downstream.

Investigators found that rivers like the Conasauga became long-term dumping grounds for PFAS-laden wastewater. From there, the contamination seeped into groundwater, municipal drinking systems, and private wells serving thousands of residents. Even worse? Internal company documents show manufacturers were aware as early as the 1990s that PFAS were building up in human blood, long before regulators stepped in.

Today, PFAS levels in some waterways linked to carpet production exceed modern health advisory limits by orders of magnitude, raising serious questions about corporate accountability and regulatory oversight.

Why PFAS Are So Hard to Get Rid Of

PFAS are nicknamed “forever chemicals” for a reason. Their carbon-fluorine bonds are among the strongest in chemistry, making them nearly indestructible in natural environments. Traditional water treatment systems, the kind designed decades ago, were never built to handle compounds this stubborn.

As a result, PFAS pass straight through many municipal treatment plants and end up in tap water. Research has linked long-term PFAS exposure to increased risks of cancer, hormone disruption, immune system issues, and developmental problems. In short, these chemicals don’t just stick around; they mess with your health while they do.

How Water Treatment Can Remove PFAS (Yes, It’s Possible)

The good news: while PFAS are tough, they’re not unbeatable. Modern water treatment technologies can significantly reduce, and in some cases nearly eliminate, PFAS from drinking water.

Activated Carbon Filtration
Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) is one of the most widely used PFAS treatment methods today. It works by adsorbing PFAS compounds onto porous carbon surfaces as water passes through. GAC is especially effective against long-chain PFAS like PFOA and PFOS, which are among the most studied and regulated.
Ion Exchange Resins
Ion exchange systems use engineered resins that attract and trap PFAS molecules. These systems tend to outperform carbon when it comes to removing shorter-chain PFAS, but they’re more expensive and require careful maintenance.
Reverse Osmosis & Nanofiltration
Membrane-based systems like reverse osmosis (RO) are the heavy hitters of PFAS removal. By forcing water through ultra-fine membranes, these systems can remove a broad range of PFAS compounds at very high efficiency. The downside? Cost, energy use, and wastewater byproducts. Multi-media pre-filtration is necessary to protect RO membranes from damage.

What’s Next: New Tech That Goes Beyond Filtering

Filtering PFAS out of water is only half the battle. Scientists are now racing to develop technologies that actually destroy PFAS rather than just concentrate them elsewhere.

Next-generation sorbents, including plant-based polymers like β-cyclodextrins, are showing promise for more selective PFAS capture.
Advanced treatment systems are being piloted that reduce PFAS to non-detect levels while generating less waste.
Chemical destruction methods are emerging that can break the carbon-fluorine bond itself, a potential game-changer for long-term remediation.

While many of these approaches are still scaling up, they signal a shift away from simply managing PFAS contamination toward actually ending it.

Why This Matters Now

The carpet industry’s PFAS legacy is a case study in what happens when innovation outpaces regulation. Communities didn’t consent to decades of chemical exposure, but they’re paying the price anyway.

As new federal PFAS standards roll out and water utilities scramble to comply, investment in advanced water treatment isn’t optional anymore; it’s essential. For households, certified point-of-use filters can help reduce exposure. For municipalities, long-term solutions will require infrastructure upgrades, accountability, and serious funding.

PFAS may be forever chemicals, but unchecked pollution doesn’t have to be a forever problem.