What is PFAs?
Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), better known as "forever chemicals", have been used since the 1940s due to their resistance to breaking down. This has caused a build up of PFAS in people, animals, and the environment over time as it takes decades to decompose naturally.
Originally used for nonstick cookware and firefighting foam, these man-made chemicals raised concerns due to their “forever” characteristics and their extreme resistance to all forms of decomposition. Through this blog, we aim to explore the multifaceted aspects of PFAS, shedding light on its health risks, sites of impact, and prevention strategies.
97% of people in the US have PFAS chemicals in their blood.
4,626-6,864 cases of cancer from 2016-2021 were attributed to PFAS in drinking water.
45% of tap water in the US could be contaminated with at least one type of PFAS.
Health Risks of PFAS
The abundance of PFAS throughout the world makes it very easy to ingest. Not only that, but PFAS chemicals cannot be seen, tasted, or smelled. They are invisible and odorless and testing is the only way to detect their presence. Due to their extreme resistance, PFAS cannot be broken down by any biological processes during digestion. Even worse, they are extremely small and similarly structured to the fatty acids we normally need to survive. This makes it easy for them to enter our bloodstream and move freely through our organs.
PFAS is associated with the following health risks:
Cancer
Particularly kidney and testicular
Thyroid Hormone Disruption
Immune System Suppression
Reduced vaccine effectiveness
Liver Damage
Increased Cholesterol Levels
Pregnancy Complications
Developmental Delays in Children
Weight Gain
In both children and dieting adults
History of PFAS
- 1938: PFAS is discovered by DuPont when researching better refrigeration methods.
- 1940s-1950s: PFAS was introduced in consumer products (Teflon, non stick pans is the biggest example).
- 1960s-1980s: Widespread use of PFAS in firefighting foams on military bases and airports raises the first concern, specifically about its environmental persistence.
- 1998: 3M and DuPont are alerted of higher levels of C8, a chemical known to be produced by these companies, being found in human blood. Employees of factories are found to have extremely high concentrations of the substance in their blood. This initially went unreported, but legal cases brought to the EPA forced the companies to release records to the public.
- 2000s: 3M phased out the legally questioned PFAS, C8. This is soon replaced by another PFAS chemical that is essentially the same but under a new name, C6 which was nicknamed GenX for marketing purposes.
- 2010s – Present: Global concerns grow as lawsuits, bans, and regulations have been increasing. Despite this, many companies still use PFAS in their products and manufacturing plants.
Sites of Impact
Natural Environments
PFAS is now found in water and soil throughout the entire world, from polar bears in Antarctica to monkeys in the Amazon rainforest.
Airports, Military Bases, and Fire Stations
Military bases, fire stations, and airports are hotspots for PFAS contamination due to their use and testing of firefighting foams.
Contaminated Water
Contaminated water can remain polluted for decades due to the resilience and chemical stability of PFAS.
Residencies
Explore this interactive PFAS map to see how much PFAS contamination is in your area.
Prevention Strategies
Although there is no current treatment to remove PFAS from the body, there are ways to prevent and reduce future exposures to it.
Use Water Filters
Use water filters that are effective at reducing or even removing PFAS from drinking water.
Avoid Overheating Non-Stick Pans
Overheating non-stick pans past 350 degrees Fahrenheit causes the release of dangerous gases potentially containing PFAS.
Reheat Food on a Plate
Check food packaging to ensure they don’t use PFAS and avoid reheating food in plastic containers or wrappers.
Avoid PFAS-Containing Products
Products like non-stick food wrappers, popcorn bags, water resistant clothing and carpets, and even certain dental flosses contain levels of PFAS.
resources
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