There’s been about a seven-fold increase in Google searches for the term “PFAS” over the last five years. When you do that quick search, you’re met with a deluge of scientific data, research, and a whole lot of jargon — including some rather alarming headlines about PFAS showing up in the water we drink, the seafood we eat, fast food wrappers, our clothing, and even found in our blood. But what exactly are PFAS, and just how concerned should we be?
What are PFAS?
As Food & Wine reports, PFAS, short for per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, are chemicals designed to withstand water, oil, grease, and heat, which may sound ideal for food packaging. PFAS chemicals are also often found as a part of non-stick cookware and on food packaging to make it grease and water resistant.
“PFAS is one of those super chemicals that can do just about anything, from making sure that your food doesn’t stick to your pan to letting you wear a piece of clothing that can wick away water and just about anything in between,” Dr. David Nadler, research assistant professor at New York Institute of Technology, said. “History shows us that these types of super chemicals that can do anything tend to be the most hazardous.”
What it boils down to, is that these chemicals take at least a century to break down in the human body, and much longer in our environment, and like many man-made substances approved for extensive use, they’re much less safe than we thought. Linked to cancer, autoimmune disease, thyroid problems, and more health issues, PFAS’ toxicity is worrying, and still being studied. The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) shared several of what it calls “potential outcomes” from PFAS exposure, as the science is still developing: Changes in cholesterol and liver enzyme levels; Small changes in infant birth weight; and Changes in the immune system and response to certain vaccines.
“‘I’ve been worried about it, and the science panel has been worried about this being potentially an issue for more people for a long time,” Scott Bartell, professor of environmental and occupational health at the University of California, Irvine, who’s been studying and quantifying human exposures and health effects caused by environmental contaminants, including PFAS, shared. “I think the health effects [are] becoming more and more clear over time.”
But, before you spiral too deep into despair about PFAS, Bartell, and a few other experts in the field, say it’s more essential to be informed. So, here’s what you need to know about PFAS chemicals and how you can mitigate your own risk.
What are the current government regulations around PFAS chemicals in the U.S.?
In the United States, regulation of PFAS is evolving. In April, the EPA set new maximum contaminant levels for PFOA and PFOS (which both fall under PFAS chemicals) in drinking water to 4.0 parts per trillion, individually. The goal, however, is to hit zero, as the EPA also announced that no level of PFAS exposure is safe.
“Drinking water contaminated with PFAS has plagued communities across this country for too long,” EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan said in a statement at the time. To help make this a reality, the EPA is making $1 billion available to states and territories to implement PFAS testing and to implement new treatment systems, CBS News reported.
In March, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also announced that certain PFAS chemicals “are no longer being sold by manufacturers” on food packaging as part of a voluntary phase-out. “The substances containing PFAS were applied to fast-food wrappers, microwave popcorn bags, take-out paperboard containers, pet food bags, as well as other similar types of packaging,” the FDA added. And while this was a voluntary effort, some states have taken it a step further to completely ban the chemicals from food products.
This April, the Biden-Harris Administration announced the first-ever legally enforceable drinking water standard, in order to protect Americans from PFAS-contaminated water. According to the EPA, “The final rule will reduce PFAS exposure for approximately 100 million people, prevent thousands of deaths, and reduce tens of thousands of serious illnesses.”
How can the average person avoid exposure to forever chemicals?
Reducing exposure to PFAS can be challenging due to widespread use. However, as the experts have noted, there are ways people can limit their exposure. For starters, you can look up if a product contains PFAS on websites like this Clean Water Action Guide.
For water, can test your tap water with a home test kit or through a local environmental agency. If PFAS are found, you can try removing them at home. Unfortunately, boiling water to sanitize it doesn’t work with forever chemicals, but Consumer Reports has tested several faucet filters and a refrigerator filter to extricate PFAS from your water. From there, you can also make sparkling water at home, with a countertop soda maker. You can’t control what’s in your bottled water, but purifying and carbonating your water at home may be the safest and healthiest option for sparkling water lovers.
For food, the guide suggests looking for products that are “BPI certified,” which means they are certified by the Biodegradable Products Institute, which requires all compostable food packaging to be PFAS-free. It also notes you can search the Center for Environmental Health website, which frequently updates its database of PFAS-free food packaging.
Unfortunately, you can’t assume products with environmentally friendly claims are PFAS-free. In their study, Consumer Reports detected at least some organic fluorine in every product with those kinds of claims. Several even had levels above 100 ppm. That included a McDonald’s Big Mac container labeled as using paper from “responsible sources,” a focaccia bag from Sweetgreen labeled “EcoCraft,” and paper plates from Stop & Shop labeled as “100% compostable.” To be certified as compostable by the Biodegradable Products Institute, products are supposed to have less than 100 ppm organic fluorine. Any PFAS in compostable products is concerning because of how long the compounds last in the environment.
Transfer takeout food out of its packaging when you can. The longer food sits in packaging, the more likely it is that PFAS will migrate to your food. That may be especially important if your food is warm and if it comes in paper bags or molded fiber bowls, which had the highest levels in CR’s tests. Ideally, put food into foil, silicone, or glass containers, which typically don’t have PFAS. Also, don’t reheat food in its original packaging. That could make it easier for PFAS to get into food.
You can also favor retailers that have pledged to reduce PFAS. While their levels are not zero, PFAS levels in food packaging at those retailers tend to be somewhat lower. And giving them your business supports efforts to address the problem.
Additionally, DeWitt noted you might want to learn more about the foods that have been shown to have the highest levels of PFAS chemicals, including many sports drinks, processed meats, chips, as well as many seafoods and freshwater fish, so you can make informed decisions for yourself. As for non-stick pans, you can always choose to use butter or olive oil in a pan rather than getting a non-stick version.
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