PFAS: Are "forever chemicals" harmful?
The bottom line
Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are present in our everyday lives in products including stain-resistant fabrics, non-stick cookware, and food packaging. While some research has suggested an association with PFAS exposure and harmful effects on human health, more research is needed to fully define the health effects of PFAS exposure.
Prevention Tips
To reduce exposure to PFAS, avoid use of non-stick cookware, grease-resistant food packaging such as pizza boxes and other takeout food containers, and stain-resistant upholstery and carpeting.
Since PFAS are present in drinking water and the air we breathe, it is likely impossible to eliminate all sources of PFAS exposure.
This Really Happened
A 2021 study in the journal Environmental Science and Technology Letters examined 231 cosmetic products purchased at common retailers in the United States and Canada, for the presence of PFAS chemicals. PFAS concentrations were measured as total fluorine concentration in each product. Foundations, eye products, mascaras, and lip products were found to contain the highest percentages of fluorine. These products were commonly advertised as “wear resistant” or “long-lasting”. Very few of these products listed PFAS as an ingredient.
The full story
Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are man-made chemicals used to make everyday household items have waterproof, greaseproof, and non-stick characteristics. The chemical structure of PFAS includes a very strong carbon-fluorine bond that makes the compounds stable, inert, and resistant to breakdown. PFAS chemicals are known for their persistence in the environment and are sometimes referred to as “forever chemicals” because of this.
Because of their environmental persistence, PFAS chemicals are found in drinking water, dust, air, and food. PFAS are also found in the bloodstreams of almost all adults living in the United States. The widespread human exposure to PFAS has raised questions concerning the potential health effects of these chemicals. In studies involving rats, PFAS exposure has been linked to cancer. However, the significance of this is unclear. Rat bodies are not the same as human bodies, and the pathways involved in cancer cell growth in rats are often different than those in humans. In addition, the body’s processing of PFAS compounds is different in humans than in some other animals. Because of this, it can be difficult to establish a strong link between PFAS exposure and cancer.
Additional adverse health effects of PFAS exposure may include obesity, high cholesterol, diabetes, and liver disease. Many of the studies that explored these health effects focused on workplace settings where high-level exposures occurred, leading to uncertainty about the significance of PFAS exposure in the general population. Overall, more studies are needed before an accurate assessment can be formed regarding the adverse effects of PFAS on human health. Until the relationship between PFAS and human disease is more clearly identified, individuals who are concerned about the potential dangers of PFAS exposure should try to limit their exposures to these compounds.
For questions about potential poisoning from chemical exposures, use the webPOISONCONTROL® online tool to get help, or call your poison center at 1-800-222-1222. Whether online or by phone, expert guidance is always free, confidential, and available 24 hours a day.
