How to avoid PFAS: 5 Common Items to Avoid to Minimize Exposure to 'Forever Chemicals'
Euronews Health compiled a list of five common items with PFAS or “forever chemicals”.
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), known as “forever chemicals”, are used across various industries, from electronics to aerospace.
However, they have also found their way into everyday consumer products, raising public concern due to their harmful effects on people's health.
“PFAS are these man-made chemicals, they don't occur naturally, we have to make them in the lab,” Dr Shelley Liu, associate professor at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, told Euronews Health.
“They are really useful because they have these water resistant, oil repellent, stain resistant properties, so you can imagine they have a lot of use across industry and also consumer products,” she added.
These toxic chemicals can also be in water, soil, and air, increasing people’s exposure.
Recent research has identified the presence of PFAS in rainwater nearly everywhere on Earth, and they have been found in tap water and increasingly in items like fruits and vegetables.
“PFAS in general, they have this carbon fluorine bond that's very strong, so because of that they're really hard to break down,” Liu said.
“Your body doesn't break it down and some of these PFAS chemicals can last in your body for years, maybe three to five years,” she added.
Avoiding exposure to these chemicals can be challenging as it occurs through using contaminated products and those containing these chemicals or even by breathing contaminated air.
Recent research has also found that these forever chemicals can enter the bloodstream through contact with the skin.
PFAS are toxic to humans, with numerous studies linking them to an increased risk of cancer, hormonal disruptions, reproductive problems, and other health issues.
Liu added that PFAS exposure was also linked to weaker immune system functions, decreased vaccine response, and higher cholesterol levels.
“Just because you have high exposure doesn't necessarily mean that you're going to get the disease, but you might be at higher risk,” she said.
While completely avoiding them may be nearly impossible, as they are found almost everywhere, people could reduce their exposure by avoiding some everyday products that may contain PFAS.
Non-stick cookware
Many non-stick pots and pans are coated with a form of PFAS, including one called PTFE, which helps prevent food from sticking.
