Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of chemicals that have gained global notoriety over the last few decades. Their nickname, “forever chemicals”, comes from the way they build up in the environment (and inside living things) without breaking down.
These hazardous substances have been making headlines recently as PFAS water contamination has been discovered in multiple locations at levels that new research identifies as unsafe. Our understanding of these chemicals is still growing; PFAS is an umbrella term for thousands of synthetic chemicals that have been used in manufacturing and industrial practices all over the world. Among these chemicals are subgroups with their own acronyms like PFOS, PFOA, PFHxS, and PFNA.
More than 97% of people in the USA have PFAS accumulating in their organs, and traces of forever chemicals have been found even in the most remote locations (e.g. the Arctic). Science continues to evolve and expand around this issue, with more compounds being tested, banned, and invented every year.
Understanding what forever chemicals are, where they come from, what they do, and how you can avoid them is the first step in protecting your home and family from the asbestos of our time. This article explores some of the most common questions about PFAS and provides guidance on how you can keep it out of your water – and your body.
Where do PFOS chemicals come from?
Forever chemical contamination in Australia is often attributed to firefighting foam used from the 1970s to the mid-2000s. PFAS and PFOS are often resistant to both heat and liquid, so military and industrial organisations used aqueous film-forming foams (AFFFs) as fire suppressants for liquid fires (e.g. fuel fires). These foams were deployed regularly during training drills at military training facilities, with the residue being washed away afterwards.
Unfortunately, these foams were absorbed into the ground and often seeped into aquifers that regional communities used for sourcing groundwater. The Australian government has paid out hundreds of millions of dollars to reimburse communities whose drinking water contained PFAS levels that far exceeded national safety guidelines.
PFAS exposure can also come from everyday, innocuous household products. Heat and stain-resistant products like Teflon and Scotch Guard from manufacturers like 3M and DuPont were made with forever chemicals from the 1940s until the last few decades. Even things like food packaging, non-stick cookware, and dental floss can contain forever chemicals. The forever chemicals 3M and Dupont produced have led to several lawsuits and significant pay-outs.
Forever chemicals that enter the environment become a serious issue for everyone. While living near a defence base where groundwater is contaminated by AFFFs is certainly a problem, people living far away from contamination sites are not necessarily safe from PFOS exposure. Rivers, rain, and even animals can carry forever chemicals long distances.
What are forever chemicals used for?
Like asbestos, lead, and mercury, forever chemicals were commonly used around the world before we knew just how dangerous they could be. As discussed above, PFAS have several properties that make them popular in manufacturing and industrial processes. They are typically resistant to heat, grease, and water, which are challenges in a wide range of household and industrial tasks.
Products and processes that use PFAS include:
- Stain-resistant fabrics
- Grease-resistant coatings on furniture, carpets, and food packaging
- Nonstick cookware
- Shampoo and cosmetics
- Heat-resistant materials and components
- Firefighting foams
- Industrial surfactants (substances that affect the surface tension of liquids)
Many forever chemicals have been banned, but it is difficult to enforce large-scale safety practices across such a wide range of chemicals and industries. There are thousands of compounds that can be classified as per- or poly-fluoroalkyl substances. Additionally, since these substances are artificially manufactured, companies are able to sidestep regulations by using new compounds that have the same properties but were not covered by older regulations.
PFAS water contamination
Forever chemicals have spread to most of the world, from densely populated cities to remote areas far from civilisation. One of the biggest factors in their range is how easily they can be transported through water.
PFOS themselves may not break down, but the products containing them do. When old food packaging, broken cookware, or other PFAS products end up in landfills, rainfall carries tiny particles of forever chemicals into the sewers and waterways. Environmental pollution often ends up in rivers, which flow out into the ocean and distribute the contaminants to aquatic wildlife.
Even rainwater has been found to contain forever chemicals. Studies in 2022 found that rain often contained concentrations of PFAS well above the recommended levels. PFAS particles can be carried on dust and other airborne particles, contaminating rain and being carried to new areas.
PFAS chemicals can enter our bodies from several different sources, but if you are looking to protect yourself from forever chemicals, the water you drink should be one of the first things you address.
What are PFAS chemicals doing to our bodies?
Forever chemicals had already become a fixture of global manufacturing and household products before we found out about their health impacts. Studies have linked PFAS exposure to serious health issues, from thyroid and hormone disruption to fertility complications and cancers.
The subgroup PFOA in particular has recently been classified by the World Health Organisation as carcinogenic to humans, with any level of exposure at all being potentially harmful.
According to the US Environmental Protection Agency and several peer-reviewed scientific studies, PFAS exposure health risks include:
- Reproductive issues (decreased fertility, high blood pressure during pregnancy, infant health issues, etc.)
- Suppressed immune system and impaired antibody response
- Liver damage
- Thyroid disease
- Reduced responsiveness to vaccines
- Developmental delays in children
- Increased risks of prostate, kidney, and testicular cancers
- Higher cholesterol and/or risk of obesity
- Endocrine disruption
The Australian government is working to improve protections against PFAS exposure, but the health risks associated with forever chemicals require immediate and widespread action. Wherever PFAS come from, the risks they pose are a serious matter.
How to avoid PFAS products
As our understanding of PFAS health risks improves, fewer products containing forever chemicals are being produced. However, there are still several major brands and product ranges that have only recently been found to contain PFAS, PFOS, or PFOA.
When possible, opt for fresh food over pre-packaged options. Apart from avoiding forever chemicals in the packaging, this is a great way to reduce waste and improve your diet, as these products often have single-use plastics and artificial ingredients. Avoiding nonstick cookware is also a wise move, especially older pots and pans bought second-hand or passed down from relatives.
There are also some brands that you may wish to avoid if PFAS protection is a priority (an alternative heading for this section could be “how to avoid DuPont products” – the major players in this issue have a lot of contaminated products). Several products now prioritise using PFAS-free packaging and ingredients. Researching these kinds of options for products you commonly use can both protect your family from forever chemicals and support businesses working to promote healthier materials.
Another major step you can take is filtering your water. Not all water filters can remove forever chemicals, but an under-sink reverse osmosis system is one of the best defences against unwanted chemicals and contaminants for your drinking water. These purifiers use a 0.0005-micron membrane to strip away over 99% of impurities, including PFAS, PFOS, PFOA, and more.
To find out more about forever chemicals, reverse osmosis, and our upcoming whole-home PFAS removal system, fill out our contact form or give us a call on 1300 693 458
