Would you believe me if I told you that one of our population’s biggest health concerns comes from something that man actually made themselves? Well, looking at history, you would probably say YES! Most of humanity’s issues are man-made. But this one in particular makes me quite frustrated and frightened. This issue is so invasive that it has made its way into every part of our lives from our cookware to our rain. Yep, I’m talking about forever chemicals, or PFAS. PFAS stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances; a group of synthetic chemicals that are used to make products that are resistant to water, heat, oil, stains, and grease. In theory, they sound great, but when you take a deeper look into the damaging health effects these chemicals cause, you’ll be asking yourself, “Why the hell were these chemicals even created”?
History of PFAS
PFAS chemicals were created in Germany in the 1930s by two chemists named Fitz Schloffer and Otto Scherer. These chemists saw the resistant properties that PFAS had and before they knew it the chemicals were taking over many industries and being used in millions of products. Little to no testing was done to see the health and environmental impacts these chemicals had. It wasn’t until the 2000s that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) started to raise red flags regarding these chemicals and testing began. Still, no real regulations were set and PFAS continued to invade the consumer industry. At least 2,500 industries are creating and using these chemicals every single day, some, such as DuPont and 3M, more than others.
In recent years, PFAS has been taken much more seriously as new bans, regulations, and lawsuits have come out surrounding the chemicals. This problem is currently ongoing and the truth is it will never go away. Yes, change is starting, but it’s too late. These chemicals do not break down hence the name “forever” chemicals.
Health Impacts
PFAS has many negative impacts on our health; many of which are still being explored. Here is a little overview of a few concerns:
- Reproductive health – PFAS has been linked to infertility and pregnancy complications such as pre-eclampsia. It has also been linked to fetal developmental problems such as low birth weight and bone variations.
- Immune system – PFAS can weaken the body’s immune system and decrease the body’s response to vaccines. PFAS has been linked to thyroid disease, heart disease, and many types of cancer. Research also suggests that PFAS negatively impacts cholesterol levels and the liver.
- Regulatory health – PFAS has proven to negatively alter the metabolism and body weight regulation leading to obesity.
The research on PFAS is ongoing, but one thing is clear – PFAS is NOT good for us. It is linked to a plethora of health complications that can be fatal. It is also believed that PFAS affects women more intensely than men. If you’re like me, this information makes you very overwhelmed and worried. So, let’s try to calm those nerves by looking at ways to avoid PFAS exposure.
Ways to Avoid PFAS
PFAS is found in nearly everything: cookware, clothing, furniture, dental floss, artificial turf, medical masks, car seats, food packaging, firefighting foam, and the list goes on. PFAS can migrate into the soil, water, and air meaning we literally eat, drink, and breathe it. PFAS is in all of our bodies by now and that is a truly scary thing. The only thing we can do to help ourselves is limit our exposure by being conscious of what we use, wear, and consume.
Here are some tips:
- Get your drinking water PFAS tested. You can reach out to your water provider for this.
- If you don’t trust your water, use your own at-home water filtration system such as reverse osmosis.
- Replace all non-stick cookware with cast iron, glass, ceramic, or stainless steel.
- Avoid buying stain-resistant items such as clothing and furniture.
- Store leftover food in glass containers.
- Avoid fast food and microwavable popcorn bags as many greasy wrappers are coated in PFAS.
- Vacuum your home often to keep your space fresh and remove dust.
- Make sure that your dental floss is made from silk or nylon that is coated in wax.
- Check the disclosed chemical list on cleaning products and search for products that specifically list that they are PFAS-free.
In Conclusion
I know this can be exhausting and overwhelming, but even just taking one small step a week to limit PFAS exposure can make such a difference. PFAS is easy to ignore since we cannot directly see it, but it’s everywhere and it’s a serious concern. While research is still being conducted, and new and improved ways of preventing PFAS are being explored, we must take the first steps for ourselves by staying proactive in limiting our exposure. If you only take one thing from this blog let it be to get your water tested, and ensure your cookware is PFAS-free. Those alone will set you ahead in this battle with PFAS.