There’s no doubt that technological improvements like leak-proof food packaging, waterproof clothing, and nonstick pots and pans have actually made modern-day life simpler. As with all creations that seem too great to be true, there are some regrettable disadvantages to these items. Among these undesirable negative effects, the existence of ‘permanently chemicals’ may be among the most concerning.
If you haven’t yet become aware of these notorious chemical substances, it’s only a matter of time as they’re getting more and more public attention due to their prevalent nature and worrying health ramifications. Fortunately, this is driving local and national governments to take meaningful action to lower forever chemical direct exposure across the country. Continue reading to find what permanently chemicals are, where they’re discovered, how they affect human health, and methods to skirt them as much as possible.
What Are Forever Chemicals?
The colloquial term ‘forever chemicals’ is really utilized to explain per- and poly-fluorinated alkyl compounds, better called PFAS. “PFAS are a big group of chemicals that contain fluorines and carbons. Their chemical structure makes them challenging to break down and, in turn, they continue our environment,” states Jennifer Freeman, Ph.D., Professor of Toxicology in the School of Health Sciences at Purdue University where her lab works to increase understanding of unfavorable health results connected with environmental chemical pollutants, consisting of PFAS.
This is why PFAS have long been called ‘permanently chemicals’ and discovered in a series of unsuspecting environmental and animal samples globally1. To date, researchers have found over 15,000 PFAS chemicals2, locating them in rainwater3, air, soil, consumer goods, and even certain foods4.
” PFAS are used in a variety of customer items and markets due to the fact that they have the ability to resist spots, water, grease, and heat,” Freeman describes. “The most well-known PFAS are those that were utilized in Teflon, Scotchgard, and GoreTex customer items.” Sadly, these popular brands are simply the suggestion of the iceberg when it concerns where these chemicals can be identified in daily life.
Where Are Forever Chemicals Found?
Aside from nonstick cookwares, several types of food packaging make use of PFAS to prevent sticking and withstand water and grease leakage. These consist of fast food wrappers, pizza boxes, microwave popcorn bags, and a big portion of plastic food and beverage product packaging. And sadly, researchers have discovered5 that PFAS can leach from this packaging into our food.
” PFAS have likewise been found in pesticides and bioproducts applied to agricultural fields, which can result in PFAS polluting drinking water sources and food,” Freeman adds. Furthermore, water sources (including those that provide drinking water) can be more infected with forever chemicals from firefighting foam and industrial waste. “These activities have likewise led to some water bodies (lakes, ponds, streams, and rivers) containing higher levels of PFAS that can enter marine organisms, such as fish,” she says.
Food and water are not the only places these pesky chemicals can work their method into our lives. Given that they’re used in waterproof fabric, PFAS can be present in waterproof clothes in addition to carpets and even furniture. “They’re frequently discovered in cosmetics, hair shampoo, cleansing products, feminine health products, and adhesives, too,” Freeman includes.
How Do Forever Chemicals Impact Our Health?
As if the permanently chemical landscape wasn’t depressing enough, the emerging evidence surrounding their health ramifications is likewise raising major issue. “In current years, substantial human population studies6 suggested particular PFAS cause thyroid illness, increased cholesterol levels, liver damage, kidney cancer, prostate cancer, testicular cancer, decreased response to vaccinations, delayed mammary gland development, decreased fertility, and in children lower birth weight and lowered growth, along with other developmental problems,” Freeman discusses.
Forever chemical exposure7 may lead to impaired endocrine, metabolic, and immune function, too. In addition, given their poisonous nature, permanently chemicals are likewise a major health issue for natural landscapes and wildlife8 throughout the planet.
Decreasing Forever Chemicals at Home
While all this information sounds quite bleak, there are in fact numerous actions that you can personally take to help in reducing the quantity of forever chemicals in your life. “Consumers can have a large impact by choosing products without PFAS,” Freeman highlights.
When it pertains to water, either select glass bottled options or invest in a PFAS-removing water filter for your home. “Also, in the spring of 2024, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) enacted the first regulatory levels for PFAS in drinking water for a couple of PFAS chemicals which are now needed to be determined in drinking water and must meet the set regulative level,” Freeman includes. You can investigate your local drinking water PFAS levels utilizing tools like the United States Geological Survey (USGS) PFAS in US Tap Water Interactive Dashboard.
On the food front, try to swap out your nonstick pots and pans for stainless-steel, cast iron, enamel, or PFAS-free nonstick pans. Eating less fast food, microwave popcorn, and plastic-packaged food in general can likewise assist in this regard.
For other permanently chemical-containing products around your home, attempt to avoid acquiring stain or water-repellent clothes, coverings, and carpets. “Also, select cosmetics and other personal care items without fluoro-based ingredients when possible,” Freeman suggests.
The Bottom Line
In spite of the prevalence of hazardous permanently chemicals in our worldwide environment, we’re already starting to see the favorable impacts of small and government-based change. “There have actually been current government efforts to remove PFAS from some items and these actions have actually succeeded in seeing a decrease in PFAS levels in human blood9, suggesting overall direct exposure has decreased since of these actions,” Freeman explains.
Additionally, state-funded education projects and materials (like this Massachusetts PFAS-free Buying Guide) are appearing across the country to assist customers make more educated getting options. “State firms and researchers are likewise working to determine which water sources may be most at threat and creating fish intake advisories for these areas,” Freeman adds. These glimmers of hope are empowering, demonstrating how impactful smaller-scale actions can be in reducing the negative impacts of permanently chemicals on both a personal and community level.
