The source and spread of “forever chemicals”

What are PFAS and where do they come from?

PFAS stands for per and polyfluoroalkyl substances. These chemicals are widely used for their durability and longevity, garnering the nickname “forever chemicals”. PFAS are often found in household products such as makeup, clothing, nonstick pans, packaging and numerous other items commonly found in the home. 

First used by companies like DuPont and 3M, PFAS are water and grease-repellent, stain-resistant, and overall incredibly durable. These chemicals came out as brands like Teflon for nonstick pans and Scotchgard for waterproofing fabrics. Their use in everything from food packaging to firefighting foam became widespread. However, the manufacture and spread of PFAS did not come without its costs. 

What are the health effects of PFAS?

PFAS chemicals can pose serious health risks to those exposed to them. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, exposure to PFAS chemicals, even in small amounts over time, has been linked to serious health effects including cancer, thyroid disruption and reduced vaccine response. 

Many studies have shown links between PFAS and serious health problems. A study of over 69,000 people in a community exposed to PFAS contaminated drinking water found a probable link between PFAS exposure and serious health defects, including thyroid disease, ulcerative colitis, testicular cancer, and a number of other severe conditions. 

To make matters worse, PFAS have been given the nickname “forever chemicals” because they don’t break down in our bodies or in the environment. So the more they get used, the more they build up and the bigger the risk they pose to our health. This is particularly concerning for our kids who could be exposed to these chemicals for decades to come.

What has been done to reduce exposure to PFAS?

So far, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set limits on just  six PFAS chemicals in our drinking water. These six are the chemicals most closely linked to serious health issues. However, drinking water only accounts for one-fifth of a person’s potential PFAS exposure, and there are over 10,000 kinds of PFAS that can be found in available products. While the health impacts of some of these chemicals is unknown, none of them have been proven safe for human health. 

In order to limit PFAS exposure, you can check the labels of common products and choose options that are marketed as PFAS-free. Because PFAS is commonly used in stain- and water-proofing and non-stick treatments, pay special attention when buying products promoting these features.

The responsibility shouldn’t be on you to keep potentially dangerous chemicals out of our products. While it’s good that the EPA is finally limiting at least some PFAS in drinking water, the best solution is to stop using these toxic substances.  We convinced Congress to order the Pentagon to phase out PFAS in firefighting foam on military bases, and won new laws in several states to ban or limit other uses of PFAS as well.  

But more federal action is needed to protect all Americans. Urge the EPA to tighten regulation on PFAS chemicals. We should be certain that the products in our homes are not doing us harm. 

– Text and visuals created in collaboration with intern Darren Chang.