By: Susie
Read time: 6 minutes
What are PFAS chemicals?
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as PFAS, refers to a group of nearly 15,000 different types of man-made fluorinated chemicals[i] with widespread applications, from semiconductor technology to products that we use daily like cosmetics, water resistant clothing, and cookware. PFAS chemicals have been manufactured since the 1940s and are becoming an increasing topic of debate due to their potential to cause harm.
Nicknamed “forever chemicals” because they don’t break down easily once they are created, emerging science shows that these forever chemicals are virtually everywhere – in our soil, air, and water, in animal and fish tissue, and even in our bloodstream.
According to the PFAS Contamination Map[ii] created by the Environmental Working Group, PFAS have been detected in public and private water systems in every single state in the US, indicating widespread chemical contamination.
What makes PFAS useful?
PFAS chemicals are resistant to heat, oil, and water, which makes them an attractive addition for things like clothing, food packaging, cosmetics, cookware, and technology. But all that convenience comes with a high health and environmental cost.
What kinds of products contain PFAS?
PFAS is manufactured by several industries, including the construction, automotive, electronics, aerospace, cosmetics, and textile/fashion industry. Popular products that contain PFAS include:
- Nonstick cookware, notably Teflon
- Grease resistant paper and food packaging like microwave popcorn bags, pizza boxes, and candy wrappers
- Some cosmetics, such as shampoos and sunscreen
- Semiconductor and microchips
- Textiles marked as stain resistant or waterproof
- Some firefighting foam & aqueous film forming foams
- Paints and sealants
- EPA List of PFAS products
How are humans exposed to PFAS?
Humans are exposed to forever chemicals largely through our food and drinking water.[iii]
Why are PFAS harmful?
1. Negative human and wildlife health impacts.
There is a growing body of research demonstrating that PFAS exposure is causing adverse health impacts in both human and wildlife populations.[iv] PFAS exposure has been linked to several adverse human health impacts, including, but not limited to:
- Disruption of the body’s hormones, which help regulate nearly all bodily functions. PFAS is considered a hormone disrupting chemical.
- Interferes and interacts with several human body systems, including the reproductive, immune, endocrine, and nervous systems.
- Development problems in children.
- Increased risk of certain types of cancers.
- Reduced ability to fight infections and reduced vaccine responses.
- Increased cholesterol levels, which increases risk of heart attack and stroke.[v]
The negative effects of PFAS extend to wildlife health, with many of the same biological human health impacts observed in wildlife.[vi] An analysis conducted by scientists at Environmental Working Group estimates that over 600 species risk harm from PFAS.[vii]
2. Ability to bioaccumulate.
PFAS bioaccumulates, or concentrates, up the food chain and in the bodies of animals and humans. Bioaccumulation also means that PFAS chemicals are absorbed faster than they can be lost and continue to cycle through our environment. They can live for a long time in the soil, water, plants, and animals, and the more we continue to manufacture PFAS, the more we magnify our risk of exposure.
3. Toxic even in low concentrations.
PFAS chemicals are known to be toxic at incredibly low levels,[viii] which means that even low concentrations of exposure to these chemicals can lead to health issues. For this reason, drinking water limits set by the EPA to treat water for PFAS and PFOA are 4 parts per trillion, or near zero.[ix]
4. Unknown chemical safety risks and regulatory difficulties.
Considering that there are over 15,000 types of PFAS chemicals, in addition to the wider chemical crisis concerning pesticides, plastic pollution, and other chemicals used in modern day manufacturing, it is impossible to accurately understand the risks associated with these chemicals, making regulation a significant challenge.
What can we do?
Learn more about PFAS chemicals and spread awareness about their impacts.
Avoid purchasing products that contribute to PFAS pollution.
- Buy stainless steel, ceramic, or glass cookware.
- Avoid buying textiles that are labeled as water or stain repellent.
- Utilize resources like PFAS Central and NRDC’s PFAS apparel scorecard to find brands that have products that are PFAS-free and determine which brands are still using PFAS in their products.
Contact your drinking water utility to determine if they are monitoring for PFAS.
You can utilize EPA’s resources on PFAS in drinking water.
Demand regulatory change.
Ultimately, we need to reduce the amount of PFAS that is entering our environment and work to clean up these forever chemicals. We must adopt regulations that protect humans, wildlife, and ecosystems from PFAS pollution, which may include PFAS product or chemical bans, as well as regulatory standards for cleaning up PFAS contamination in our environment.
Watch our two webinars on PFAS / “Forever Chemicals”, hosted alongside Purdue ISF:
[i] Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS). National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/pfc.
[ii] PFAS contamination in the U.S. (November 20, 2024). Environmental Working Group. https://www.ewg.org/interactive-maps/pfas_contamination/.
[iii] PFAS: forever chemicals—persistent, bioaccumulative and mobile. Reviewing the status and the need for their phase out and remediation of contaminated sites. Brunn et al. Environmental Sciences Europe. https://enveurope.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s12302-023-00721-8.
[iv] PFAS: forever chemicals—persistent, bioaccumulative and mobile. Reviewing the status and the need for their phase out and remediation of contaminated sites. Brunn et al. Environmental Sciences Europe. https://enveurope.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s12302-023-00721-8;PFAS Molecules: A Major Concern for the Human Health and the Environment. Panieri et al. Environmental and Human Health Risk Assessment of POPs. https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/10/2/44; Discussion. Has the human population become a sentinel for the adverse effects of PFAS contamination on wildlife health and endangered species? Andrews et al. Science of The Total Environment. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0048969723045643.
[v] List adapted from: Our Current Understanding of the Human Health and Environmental Risks of PFAS. United State Environmental Protection Agency. https://www.epa.gov/pfas/our-current-understanding-human-health-and-environmental-risks-pfas; PFAS: forever chemicals—persistent, bioaccumulative and mobile. Reviewing the status and the need for their phase out and remediation of contaminated sites. Brunn et al. Environmental Sciences Europe. https://enveurope.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/s12302-023-00721-8.
[vi] Discussion. Has the human population become a sentinel for the adverse effects of PFAS contamination on wildlife health and endangered species? Andrews et al. Science of The Total Environment. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0048969723045643.
[vii] PFAS ‘forever chemicals’ harming wildlife the world over: Study. Guynup, Sharon. Mongabay. https://news.mongabay.com/2023/09/pfas-forever-chemicals-harming-wildlife-the-world-over-study/.
[viii] “Forever Chemicals” Called PFAS Show Up in Your Food, Clothes, and Home. Ginty, Molly. National Resources Defense Council. https://www.nrdc.org/stories/forever-chemicals-called-pfas-show-your-food-clothes-and-home; Past PFOA and PFOS Health Effects Science Documents. United States Environmental Protection Agency. https://www.epa.gov/sdwa/past-pfoa-and-pfos-health-effects-science-documents; EPA Says Even Extremely Low Levels of PFAS in Drinking Water May Be Unsafe. Loria, Kevin. Consumer Reports. https://www.consumerreports.org/water-quality/even-extremely-low-levels-of-pfas-in-drinking-water-unsafe-a1147585461/.
[ix] Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS): Final PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Regulation. United States Environmental Protection Agency. https://www.epa.gov/sdwa/and-polyfluoroalkyl-substances-pfas.
Categories: Health & Wellness