PFAS also known as perfluoroalkyl or polyfluoroalkyl substances are chemicals that repel water and oil.  They are starting to be known as the forever chemicals because it takes these chemicals a long time to break down.  They are studies showing that these chemicals can build up in your body, which can cause other health problems. 

 

Exposure to PFAS

These PFAS chemicals can be found in a number of different household items as well as in industries such as aerospace, construction, electronics, military, and firefighting.  When working with these chemicals you can become in contact from them from inhalation, skin contact, or swallowing.  Inhalation is normally the most common way to come in contact when working with these chemicals. 

You can also be contaminated from drinking contaminated water, eating fish that came from contaminated water, swallowing contaminated dirt or soil, eating food near PFAS, eating food from certain packaging, and using certain products. 

Foods that have been shown to have high amounts of PFAS are seafood, grains, meat, dairy, carbonated water, and noncarbonated bottle water. 

Items that have some level of PFAS are fast food containers, microwave popcorn bags, pizza boxes, candy wrappers, water resistant clothing, cleaning products, shampoo, dental floss, nail polish, eye makeup, paints, varnishes, and sealants.  Makeup that has PFAS in them are foundations, waterproof mascara, lip products, lotions, cleansers, nail polish, shaving cream, eyeliner, and eye shadow.  

 

PFAS Health Problems

PFAS can stay in your body for a long time. The most common way to be exposed to them is from ingesting.  Usually from contaminated foods or water.

Having PFAS in your body build up over time may lead to some health concerns.

Some of these are high cholesterol levels, or increasing your cholesterol levels.

Another side effect of too much PFAS is developmental delays in children, it can also cause low birth weight.

PFAS can cause changes in the immune system, thyroid problems, liver damage, reduced response to vaccines, or ulcerative colitis.

PFAS have been shown to increase your risk of getting certain types of cancer like kidney, prostate, testicular, or breast cancers.

 

Diagnosing PFAS Exposure

Most everyone has a detectable amount of PFAS in their bodies.  You can test for the levels of PFAS by taking a blood test.  Blood tests can show the amount of PFAS compounds in your body. 

 

PFAS Treatment & Prevention

There is no treatment.  The best way to stop health issues arising from too much PFAS is to prevent further exposure. 

If you have been exposed and you are breastfeeding it is ok to continue to breastfeed your baby. 

There are some things you can do at home to help prevent further exposure:

Drink filtered water.  If you have a personal well, you can get it tested for PFAS.  It can be common for there to be PFAS in well water. 

There is a small amount of PFAS that can absorb through your skin if you swim in a lake, stream, or river.  After swimming in one of these the best thing to do is to rinse off.  Make sure you wash your hands right away, then shower making sure to rinse off your entire body. 

Check local fish advisories when buying seafood.  Try to only buy seafood from uncontaminated  water sources. 

Fast food containers have been shown to hold a high level of PFAS so cut back on eating fast food.  Or you can take your own takeaway containers when ordering out places. 

If your snack of choice is microwave popcorn, you can buy kernels at the store and stove top pop your own popcorn instead of using those bags. 

Nonstick cookware is another household item that is manufactured with PFAS.  If your nonstick cookware has any chips in the coating, get rid of it.  Do not clean your nonstick cookware with steel wool, as it may compromise the nonstick coating which can then leak the PFAS into your food.  Better options than nonstick are stainless steel, or cast iron. 

PFAS can be brought into your house and land on surfaces.  Dust regularly to keep these from building up in your home and you breathing them in. 

Learn to read labels on products that you are wanting to buy.  Products that have ingredients that have PTFE or perfulor- in the ingredients are PFAS.  This can help you decide what products you want to buy.  When buying clothing stain or water resistant clothing containing PFAS. 

Carpets and upholstery that are stain resistant will also have PFAS in them.  When buying clothing or redoing carpet in your home make sure you are getting ones that don’t contain these chemicals. 

 

PFAS Good News 

Manufacturers are having to be more upfront with how many of these PFAS are being used in products.  They are having to be labeled more effectively, and some companies are trying to get away from having them in their products at all. 

 

Takeaway

Everyone has some detectable level in PFAS.  Overtime these chemicals can build up in our bodies, because they do not break down easily.  You can become exposed from inhalation, skin contact, or swallowing. 

The most common places you can come exposed from these forever chemicals is in household products, make up, and certain food containers.  Knowing what you are looking for when trying to avoid these chemicals can help keep your exposure low, which in return may help your overall health.  

 

 

 


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