A recent North Carolina State University study paints a concerning picture of groundwater contamination in Cumberland and Bladen counties. The study focuses on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)-a class of chemicals often called “forever chemicals” for their extreme environmental persistence. Researchers estimate it will take more than four decades for the natural flow of groundwater to flush these chemicals out, even under the best circumstances. The prolonged contamination seriously threatens local populations, agricultural lands, and downstream water sources like the Cape Fear River.