The group of toxic “forever chemicals” known as PFAS — chemicals found in hundreds of everyday products — is being closely scrutinized by lawmakers, government officials and researchers across the country.
In August 2022, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a proposed rule that would declare two common PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, as hazardous chemicals. The two PFAS in question are perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS).
Once finalized, the EPA rule will mandate the cleanup of sites contaminated with PFOA and PFOS. Public drinking water systems in 50 states are contaminated with PFAS, the nonprofit Environmental Working Group says. PFAS also have been discovered in soil and dust, as well as the air we breathe.
“For decades, polluters dumped toxic PFOA and PFOS into scores of communities across the country with impunity. [The EPA] proposal will give the EPA and those communities critical new tools to finally hold those polluters accountable and force them to clean up their mess,” Ken Cook, president of the Environmental Working Group, says in an EPA news release.
Not long after the EPA released its plan, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a measure prohibiting intentionally added PFAS in cosmetic and personal care products sold in the Golden State. Last year, Newsom signed a bill that bans paper-based food packaging that contains PFAS, and another bill that prohibits the sale of infant and children’s products coated with PFAS, such as cribs and playpens.
For its part, the American Chemical Council, an industry lobbying group, calls the proposed EPA rule “an expensive, ineffective and unworkable means” to reducing exposure to PFAS, but says it supports “strong, science-based regulations that are protective of public health and the environment.”
PFAS continue to undergo regulatory, scientific and health reviews, according to the council, and “are vital to enabling our lives in the 21st century.”
What health problems are associated with PFAS?
Among the health issues associated with PFAS are cancer, liver damage, decreased fertility, and increased risk of asthma and thyroid disease, according to Harvard University’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Other potential issues cited by the toxic substances agency include:
- Increased cholesterol
- Decreased vaccine response in children
- Slight decline in infant birthweights
- Greater risk of high blood pressure in pregnant people
David Savitz, a professor of epidemiology at Brown University, tells The New York Times that PFAS are “not an immediate threat to health.” Still, as The Times points out, scientists and regulators agree that the use of PFAS should be halted as soon as possible.
What products contain PFAS?
Harvard and the U.S. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry says products that might contain PFAS include:
- Nonstick cookware
- Fast-food containers and wrappers
- Microwave popcorn bags
- Pizza boxes
- Candy wrappers
- Stain-resistant carpets, upholstery and other fabrics
- Water-resistant clothing
- Cleaning products
- Personal care products such as shampoo and dental floss
- Cosmetics such as nail polish and eye makeup
- Paints, varnishes and sealants
- Artificial turf
- Firefighting foam
According to the toxic substances agency, the production and use of PFOS and PFOA in the U.S. have declined since 2002. However, a 2022 investigation by Consumer Reports found PFAS in at least some of the more than 100 tested food-packaging products from restaurant and grocery chains.
Why are PFAs considered “forever chemicals”?
As the Vermont Department of Health explains, manmade PFAS are found in people, fish and animals around the world. Hundreds of PFAS exist; they’re effective at repelling grease, water and stains, and combating certain types of fires, according to the nonprofit group Clean Water Action.
“Some PFAS do not break down easily and therefore stay in the environment for a very long time, especially in water. Some PFAS can stay in people’s bodies for a long time,” the Vermont health agency says.
This longtime presence of PFAS in the environment and people’s bodies prompted these substances to be tagged as “forever chemicals.”
How to avoid “forever chemicals”
As The New York Times bluntly puts it, “To say that PFAS are difficult to avoid is an understatement.”
However, there are things you can do to minimize your exposure to PFAS. Among those outlined by Clean Water Action and other organizations are:
- Quit using nonstick cookware or, at the very least, reduce the heat when using nonstick cookware.
- Pop your own popcorn rather than using microwave popcorn bags.
- Bring your own to-go food containers to restaurants and grocery chains.
- Install carpet that’s not treated with stain-resisting chemicals.
- Purchase non-PFAS clothing.
- Don’t buy personal care products and cosmetics made with PFAS.
Consumer Reports notes that “by staying away from products that contain PFAS, you reduce not only your direct exposure but also the overall environmental burden created by these chemicals.”
PFAS Central, a project of the Green Science Policy Institute and Northeastern University, has published an extensive list of PFAS-free products.
Featured Products
