A bipartisan bill would allow veterans with health issues caused by exposure to “forever chemicals” at U.S. military bases to be treated as service-connected disabilities, which would further open the door to health care and benefits compensation for those impacted.

Forever chemicals, more technically known as polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, are long-lasting chemicals that break down slowly. They are found in many everyday objects, food, and in air, water, and soil around the world, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The bill, titled “Veterans Exposed to Toxic PFAS Act,’’ or the ‘‘VET PFAS Act,” would designate exposure to PFAS as a service-connected condition for veterans, making them eligible for disability compensation through the Department of Veterans Affair

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