PFAS - The Most Pervasive Carcinogen You Didn’t Even Know Was In You And What to Do About It
For the last 70 years humanity has knowingly been poisoned by chemical companies without their knowledge and until recently, with no disclosure from those culpable. We have unwittingly participated in a game of unbridled corporate greed where the consequences of that greed has remained unchecked for decades and the regard for human health and safety has been completely ignored, for one reason. The profits in selling “convenience.”
For those not familiar, neither was I until 5 years ago, PFAS is an acronym for a family of over 14,000 different chemicals collectively called Per and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances. These substances are a direct outcome of the fluorination process intended to enhance the stability and durability of plastics, making them ideal for containers but, unfortunately, posing significant environmental and health risks. They all share the same chemical structure, each having multiple carbon-fluorine bonds and are some of the strongest chemical bonds and most persistent chemicals known in organic chemistry. The carbon-fluorine bonds in these chemicals are so strong, they simply never break down. For this reason PFAS have been referred to as “forever chemicals.”
PFAS, have been found with an alarming prevalence found in over 80% of American waterways and detected in nearly 97% of blood samples collected from individuals across various socio-demographic and age groups. In addition to being carcinogenic (causing cancer) these chemicals represent persistent ongoing concerns, contributing to mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, chronic fatigue, and persistent stress-related issues as well as, Immune System Dysfunction or suppression, hormone disruption, and developmental delay in children.
Once in the human body, these toxicants have “half-lives” (the amount of time required for half of a sample to degrade) measured in years, requiring decades for the levels to go down to unmeasurable levels.
History:
These chemicals emerged from research involved in the Manhattan Project. For younger generations who may find that topic foreign, The Manhattan Project was the secret project involved in the engineering of the atomic bomb used to end World War II.
Following the war, we entered an era where companies championed the slogan, “Better Living Through Science,” Dupont Chemical’s famous moniker, creating new products that promised to make our lives much easier and of course, ever more convenient.
Most notably leading the charge, the company 3M was the first to discover PFAS, which occurred accidentally when a worker dropped some on his shoe and discovered it had stain-proof and water repelling properties (leading to the development of products like “Scotchgard”). Because of their unique chemical properties, PFAS chemicals were used to make new and novel products such as nonstick, grease-proof cookware lined with DuPont’s Teflon that prevented food from sticking and made clean up much less of a hassle. PFAS are known for their resistance to heat, water, and oil, making them useful in a variety of applications. Today, these products have been used in countless applications and various industrial and consumer products.
Some common products that may contain or use PFAS include:
Non-stick cookware: historically used in the production of non-stick coatings, such as Teflon.
Water-resistant clothing: including jackets and boots, may be treated with PFAS such as Scotchgard to make them water-resistant.
Stain-resistant fabrics: carpets, upholstery, and clothing.
Toilet Paper, paper towels, and dental floss
Food packaging materials: such as microwave popcorn bags, fast food wrappers, and containers for takeout food.
Firefighting foam: PFAS-containing firefighting foams, known as aqueous film-forming foams (AFFF), have been used in firefighting and at military sites for their ability to suppress flammable liquid fires.
Electronics: such as semiconductors, because of their unique properties.
Cosmetics: found in some cosmetic products, such as foundation, mascara, and other items designed for long-lasting wear.
Waterproofing agents: in products designed to provide waterproofing, such as certain sprays or treatments for fabrics, shoes, and outdoor gear.
Medical devices: Certain medical devices, such as catheters and blood bags, may contain PFAS for their ability to resist liquids and stains.
Automotive products: used in the manufacturing of certain automotive products, including lubricants, sealants, and coatings.
Cause for Alarm and Cover Up:
PFAS became a topic of concern due to their persistence in the environment and the afore mentioned potential health effects which include Immune System Dysfunction or suppression, hormone disruption, cancers, and developmental delay in children.
Starting in the 1960s, 3M’s main headquarters located in Cottage Grove Minnesota, was secretly dumping chemicals in and around the surrounding environment of Oakdale and Lake Elmo. In doing so, over time these chemicals ultimately made their way into the local aquifers and soil. What became of concern for the people living in these areas was the sudden and staggering rise in childhood cancers. After investigation, it was determined that the most likely source of these cancers was environmental toxins.
This concern about PFAS heightened and intensified in the 2010s when the state of Minnesota sued 3M for contaminating the state’s natural resources. What came out in those hearings is that 3M’s own internal documents revealed what can only be described as a massive coverup to deceive the public in promoting their products as “safe.” As far back as the 1970s, when it was brought to 3M’s attention that lab samples were finding concentrations of organic fluorocompounds in human tissue, 3M began testing their own employees. Guess what they found? They discovered that the compounds were in fact, building up in the tissues of their own employees but chose not to disclose their findings to the public or the EPA for fear of lawsuits.
Following this discovery, further research conducted by Dupont in 1997, prompted them to provide 3M with a material safety data sheet indicating PFAS chemicals were very carcinogenic. That year, 3M chose briefly to begin placing a warning labels on their products, indicating that their fluorocompounds (PFAS) have been shown to be cancer causing, only to later that same year, remove the label and for decades now have continued selling their products without disclosing to the public the adverse effects these chemicals have on human health.
Hoping to quell concerns about the toxigenicity of these chemicals, 3M Company had one of its own scientist sit down and calculate what would be a safe level in human blood. After extensive research that scientist concluded that a “SAFE” level would be no more than 1.05 PPB (Parts Per Billion). In the 1990s, the amount of these chemicals showing up in the general population was on average 30X’s that number. [1]
I wish the bad news could stop here, but continued research into the carcinogenicity of the substances has continued to the extent that the EPA has revised their estimation of what is considered “safe” exposure. Since the estimate provided by the 3M scientist who investigated the effects of these substance and determine what he saw as a “Safe” level, the Federal EPA’s Safety Advisory is getting lower and lower for both PFOA and PFOS in drinking water.
“In 2016, the EPA lowered it to just 4 PPT (Parts Per Trillion) each. That’s less than a single drop of water in an Olympic size swimming pool. Each time these levels are lowered it means that more people live in an area where contaminated water is thought to be a concern. A recent study found that as many as 200 million people are drinking water with more than the acceptable levels of PFAS. That’s around two-thirds of Americans.” [2] – Tiffany Kary Bloomberg News
A new UNSW-led international study, published in Nature Geoscience, assessed the levels of PFAS contamination in surface and groundwater globally, collating 45,000 data points, which span over 20 years.
It found that most of our global source water exceeds PFAS safe drinking limits by as much as 5% - 50%. While water municipalities treatment plants can remove some PFAS, it cannot remove them all.
The problem with PFAS is obviously its toxicity. It’s a multi-organ, multi-generational toxicant, not only creating cancers but devastating the immune function of toddlers by removing antibodies and making them susceptible to multiple diseases that otherwise would not be a threat.
It’s been known for most of the modern era, that when a mother breast-feeds, she downloads her immune system to her newborn. Recent studies have shown that, the average baby is born with 387 known toxins in their mother’s placenta and umbilicus, many of which are well-documnted carcinogens. Among them are PFAS. Mothers are transferring PFAS to their children, not only via the placenta in utero, but following the birth of their child via their breast milk, which has enormous implications for future generations.
This is a global catastrophe that could and should have been avoided. PFAS have shown up in not only humans in the most remote, unpopulated parts of the planet, but in animals ranging from polar bears, to seals, to dolphins, and cattle around the world.
Progress in Protection:
While this seems like all bad news, there is some progress being made with recent lawsuit payouts in the tens of billions of dollars by companies like 3M, DuPont, and various European chemical companies producing PFAS. And, with each year more and more countries are rapidly moving to increase legislation to restrict the production of these chemicals as well as requiring the current labeling of products containing these carcinogenic toxicants.
Update: Minnesota’s ban on PFAS in food packaging begins in 2024. (Source: Bloomberg Press)
As of right now, efforts to eliminate or reduce the use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been underway, driven by growing concerns about their persistence in the environment and documented health risks. Here is a summary of the progress made up to that point:
Regulatory Actions:
Several countries and regions have taken regulatory actions to address PFAS. The European Union has been working on restricting the use of certain PFAS in various products.
In the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has been studying PFAS and considering regulatory measures, such as designating certain PFAS as hazardous substances.
Phase-Out in Some Industries:
Some industries have voluntarily phased out or reduced their use of specific PFAS. For instance, certain manufacturers have moved away from using PFAS in the production of non-stick cookware and firefighting foams. 3M has committed to phasing all PFAS by the year 2030 but says it’s difficult to find suitable replacement chemicals for with the same properties.
Research and Awareness:
There has been increased research into the environmental and health impacts of PFAS, contributing to a better understanding of their risks.
Public awareness surrounding the use of PFAS issues has definitely grown, leading to increased scrutiny and demands for action.
Water Treatment Technologies:
Advancements have been made in water treatment technologies to remove PFAS from drinking water supplies but scaling these processes has proved daunting.
Update: March 6th, 2024 - NBOT Labs, in partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), has developed and validated what is considered to be the first scalable, versatile, and cost-effective solution for removing these harmful forever chemicals from the world’s water supply.
Dr. Peter Moeller, Program Lead for Emerging Toxins at NOAA, led this groundbreaking round of research and stated: “Utilizing NBOT as a catalyst to destroy over 99.999% of PFAS in our recent tests has proven to be a remarkable advancement in the field of environmental chemistry. The ability of this technology to play a key role in efficiently breaking down PFAS compounds and removing fluorine from the carbon-fluorine bond, where traditional methods have failed, marks a significant milestone towards sustainable water treatment solutions. This success not only showcases the incredibly scalable potential of NBOT but also sets a new benchmark for addressing one of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time. It is an extraordinarily exciting discovery.” [3]
International Cooperation:
Countries have engaged in international cooperation to address PFAS issues collectively. Collaboration in research and sharing best practices are part of these efforts.
It's important to note that the situation is dynamic, and progress continues. Additionally, challenges remain, including the widespread historical use of PFAS and the complexity of addressing contamination in water sources.
What You Can Do To Protect Yourself:
To reduce exposure to per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), individuals can take various steps in their daily lives. Here are some general recommendations along with examples of companies that are known for providing PFAS-free alternatives:
Water Filtration:
Arguably the #1 MOST Significant Decision You Can Make
Use water filters: Install water filters certified to remove PFAS from drinking water.
Companies To Shop With:
Some water filter brands like Clearly Filtered, Berkey, ZeroWater, and Epic Water offer products that remove 100% of PFAS chemicals from water. Whole House Water Filtration is available through companies like PURONICS.
For other options see EWG’s top water filters for removing PFAS chemicals here: EWG’s Guide To PFAS Water Filters
Cookware:
Avoid non-stick cookware: Choose alternatives such as stainless steel, cast iron, or ceramic cookware.
Companies To Shop With:
Brands like GreenPan, Caraway, and Xtrema offer non-toxic cookware options.
Food Storage:
Use glass or stainless-steel containers: Avoid using containers with non-stick coatings.
Companies To Shop With:
Pyrex, Anchor Hocking, and Life Without Plastic provide glass or stainless-steel options.
Clothing:
Choose natural fibers: Opt for clothing made from cotton, wool, or other natural materials instead of those treated with water or stain repellents.
Companies To Shop With: Patagonia and Columbia are known for using environmentally friendly materials in their outdoor clothing.
Cosmetics:
Check ingredient lists: Avoid products with ingredients like "fluoro" or "perfluoro," as they may indicate the presence of PFAS.
Companies To Shop With:
Aveda, Beautycounter, and RMS Beauty are examples of companies committed to clean and safe cosmetic products.
Outdoor Gear:
Look for PFAS-free alternatives: Choose outdoor gear labeled as PFAS-free or made with environmentally friendly materials.
Companies To Shop With:
The North Face and Columbia have taken steps to reduce or eliminate PFAS in their outdoor products.
Cleaning Products:
Choose natural cleaning alternatives: Look for cleaning products that do not contain PFAS or other harmful chemicals.
Companies To Shop With:
Seventh Generation and Ecover offer eco-friendly cleaning products.
Personal Care Products:
Read labels: Avoid personal care products that list PFAS-related compounds in their ingredients.
Companies To Shop With:
Dr. Bronner's and Tom's of Maine are known for producing personal care products with a focus on natural ingredients.
It's important to note that product formulations and availability may change, so it's advisable to check with manufacturers for the latest information. Additionally, staying informed about PFAS-related issues and supporting companies that prioritize transparency and safer alternatives can contribute to a healthier and more sustainable lifestyle.
I would love to hear from you and your thoughts on this topic below in the comments. And certainly, if you have any questions you can always email me at support@shiftethos.com.
David
Sources:
THE POISON IN US ALL – Bloomberg Investigates Jan ‘23
THE POISON IN US ALL – Bloomberg Investigates Jan ‘23
MORNING AG CLIPS: NOAA’s Breakthrough Discovery in the Fight Against Forever Chemicals. https://www.morningagclips.com/noaas-breakthrough-discovery-in-the-fight-against-forever-chemicals/
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