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What Products are PFAS Used In?
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances are chemicals that have been used in a wide range of consumer and industrial products for decades due to their resistance to grease, oil, water, and heat. PFAS are used in stain- and water-resistant fabrics and carpeting, cleaning products, paints, and fire-fighting foams. Some PFAS has also been authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in cookware, food packaging, and food processing equipment.
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Which Foods are High in PFAS?
Eggs, certain kinds of meat (especially liver and other organ meats), and dairy products have been found to have higher levels of longer-chain PFAS. Scientists have also warned that fruit can contain elevated levels of PFAS.
What Have Studies on PFAS Found?
Many scientific studies have been conducted on PFAS exposure and its potential health effects. While it is hard to determine that PFAS definitively causes health conditions in humans, research has shown that exposure to the substances in the environment has been associated with harmful health effects in humans and animals. Additional studies are needed to better understand the actual health effects of PFAS exposure.
Are Government Agencies Doing Anything to Restrict PFAS?
Some are. In California, a law that will go into effect in 2023 will restrict PFAS in food packaging. Maine has passed a law that will limit the non-essential use of PFAS, and several other states have taken similar steps. The U.S. EPA is working to establish limits on certain PFAS in drinking water.
Related Article: How Do I Know If There Are PFAS in My Drinking Water?
Does PFAS Stay in the Body Forever?
PFAS can be measured in blood for years after exposure to the substances. PFOA levels decline in blood naturally by about half every 2-4 years, assuming there is no additional exposure. This is known as a half-life.
Who is at Greatest Risk of PFAS Exposure?
Because children are still developing, they may be more sensitive to the harmful effects of PFAS and other harmful chemicals. Children can also be exposed more than adults because they drink more water, eat more food, and breathe more air per pound of body weight than adults, which can increase their exposure to PFAS.
FAQs
How do PFAS affect drinking water quality?
PFAS can contaminate drinking water sources through industrial discharge, landfill leachate, and firefighting foam runoff. These chemicals are persistent and difficult to remove, posing significant challenges to ensuring safe drinking water quality.
Are there any safe levels of PFAS exposure?
There is no universally agreed-upon safe level of PFAS exposure. The EPA has set health advisory levels for certain PFAS in drinking water, but ongoing research suggests even low levels of exposure may have adverse health effects.
How are PFAS regulated in the United States?
PFAS regulation in the United States includes EPA health advisories and state-specific standards for drinking water and soil contamination. Efforts are underway to establish more comprehensive federal regulations to address PFAS pollution and protect public health.
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