On Feb. 6, 1897, the state of Indiana became known for its attempt to change the definition of the mathematical concept of Pi. The state was asked by an enterprising but craven businessman to change Pi from 3.14 to 3.2. The businessman said Indiana wouldn’t have to pay for schools to teach his new formula but that he would charge other states for it.
The legislature roundly rejected this attempt and shelved the bill permanently.
We thought Indiana had seen the last of these ridiculous attempts to change science to make a buck. Sadly, we were wrong. Now, enterprising yet craven chemical manufacturers are trying to convince the legislature to change the scientifically-accepted definition of a class of harmful chemicals so that they can keep poisoning our water, air, soil and products with them.
PFAS are a class of chemicals used to make products grease or waterproof. They can be found in cookware, carpets, food packaging, clothing and children’s products. They don’t break down in the environment, leading scientists to refer to them as “forever chemicals.” Exposure to PFAS has been linked to birth defects, cancer, kidney disease, infertility and pregnancy complications.