Getting Started with the PFAS Indicator

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or simply known as PFAS, are a large group of human-made chemicals known for being highly durable, resistant to heat and water, and commonly referred to as “forever chemicals” due to their persistence in the environment.  Their broad application in both industrial as well as commercial products, combined with their complex chemical structure, make them hard to identify simply by looking at either the product, or even at their SDS. 

This article serves as a starting point to understand how the indicator works, what it signals, and what it doesn’t.

What Is the PFAS Indicator?

The PFAS Indicator is a visual tool that appears at the ingredient level. It flags potential PFAS-related substances and categorizes them based on specific matching logic.

The goal is to help you identify where PFAS may exist—without requiring deep chemistry expertise.

How Does It Work?

Rooted in science and regulation, the PFAS Indicator analyzes the ingredient data that has been indexed and classifies each ingredient into one of four categories: Hazardous, Confirmed, Suspected, or Unknown.

It’s important to note that Section 3 of a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) typically includes only the ingredients required by regulation. Because of that, some PFAS may be present but not disclosed.

To ensure the PFAS Indicator works properly, make sure your ingredients have been indexed. See Ingredient Indexing
Want to understand each PFAS category better? See PFAS Indicator Color Meaning.

Why Use It?

PFAS substances are known for being persistent, mobile, and bioaccumulative. They’re increasingly the subject of regulatory actions across regions like the U.S., Canada, and the EU. However, they’re often hard to spot in product data—many don’t appear clearly on standard safety data sheets (SDSs), and naming conventions can vary.

The PFAS Indicator makes it easy to identify ingredients that might be PFAS by highlighting them directly in the platform. It helps you:

• • Spot ingredients that may need closer review
  • Stay ahead of potential regulatory changes
  • Get a clearer picture without manually searching for chemical names or CAS numbers

The VelocityEHS PFAS Indicator is a screening tool designed to help identify and prioritize potential PFAS ingredients—especially those that are Confirmed, Suspected, or classified as Hazardous. It supports visibility into whether PFAS may exist within a product portfolio or raw materials and can help you:

• • Identify ingredients that may require closer review
  • Stay informed about evolving regulatory risks
  • Gain insight without manually searching chemical names or CAS numbers

What the Indicator Does (and Doesn’t) Do

This tool is designed for screening only and does not confirm regulatory compliance. Instead, it’s intended to help surface information you may want to explore further to determine an appropriate course of action, if any.

• • It highlights ingredients, not full formulations
  • It’s a starting point—not a directive
  • It’s based on indexed SDS ingredient data, naming patterns and databases, not exhaustive chemical testing

Regulatory context may be referenced to support understanding, but the indicator itself is not meant to substitute for due diligence or your own compliance review which may include but not be limited to afull review of complete formulations including all chemical ingredients, additives, impurities, materials, etc., setting substitution criteria, identification potential alternative(s), hazard identification, risk assessment, exposure assessment, evaluate feasible options against pre-determined criteria, iterate for continuous improvement, etc.