Forever chemicals are persistent, harmful substances found in everyday products and are rapidly accumulating in waterways and in the species that sustain local diets, cultures, and ecosystems.

A new short film, Fish Forever, documents a collaborative research project between Trent researchers and First Nations across Canada studying these 'forever chemicals', scientifically known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). 

Trent University researchers in the Trent School of the Environment and Chanie Wenjack School for Indigenous Studies, Dr. Mary-Claire Buell, Dr. Barbara Moktthewenkwe Wall, Dr. Jean-Francois Koprivnjak, and Environmental & Life Sciences Ph.D. candidate Nathalie Kuria, are particularly examining how these chemicals appear in fish through the community-driven study.  

Working alongside Dr. Viviane Yargeau at McGill University as well, the team analyzes fish harvested and shared by Indigenous partners. They’re building a clearer understanding of the presence of PFAS in land and water-based foods to provide guidance on safe consumption and deepen public awareness on PFAS and their effect on both environmental and human health.

“What’s concerning from an environmental health perspective is that PFAS persist in the environment and in your body for a very long time, allowing them to build up over time. People should have the right to avoid exposures to chemicals that may compromise long-term health, both for ourselves and our families, and for the health of the environments we depend on,” says Professor Buell.

Watch Fish Forever to learn more about the project and explore programs in the Trent School of the Environment and the Chanie Wenjack School for Indigenous Studies.