What Is It?

Per- and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS) are a diverse array of compounds used in a wide range of consumer goods for water, stain, and grease resistance. PFAS have been in production since the 1940s,[1] and there are currently thousands of PFASs in the global marketplace.[2] PFAS can be categorized into two descriptive categories: “long-chain” or “short-chain”.

Why It Matters

PFAS is an acronym for per- and polyfluorinated substances. They seem to be a “hot topic” in the world of ‘green’ and ‘clean’ living, gaining unwanted attention, particularly for their popularity in nonstick pans and cookware. PFAS are often referred to as “forever chemicals” and for good reason: PFAS represent a chemical class of thousands of compounds that are environmentally persistent and can travel long distances by water and air. They accumulate in the bodies of animals and humans and are associated with multiple adverse health effects. The big problem? PFAS are virtually everywhere due to their prevalence in various types of consumer goods.

Where It’s Found

PFAS can be found in numerous products including textiles, paints, personal care products, carpet, adhesives, cookware, to-go containers, linings of food packaging, computers, cell phones, automobiles, mattresses, shoes, clothing, microwave popcorn bag linings, papers used at delis and bakeries, and much more.

Found In

Cookware
Textiles and carpets
Personal care products
To-go containers and food packaging
Clothing and gear

The Health Concern

Our scientific understanding of PFAS is limited to four out of more than 10,000[11] individual substances that constitute this chemical class. As a result, PFAS’s adverse impacts on human health, as a whole, are mostly considered to be “correlations rather than direct causation, and the risks of specific exposure levels are unknown for most PFAS”.[12] Many PFAS are persistent in the environment,[13][14] bioaccumulate (stay in the body for long periods of time) in humans and animals,[15] and elicit a range of toxic effects[16] like adverse effects on sexual function and fertility,[17] endocrine disrupting capabilities,[18] cancer,[19][20] developmental and reproductive toxicity,[21][22] and more. The behavior and toxicity of PFAS in humans, animals, and the environment can change depending on the length of its carbon chain (i.e., long-chain vs. short-chain).[23]

Pre- and postnatal exposures to perfluorinated compounds were assessed in a cohort of children between the years 1997 and 2000 to understand the associations between PFAS exposure and antibody concentrations following immunizations (against diphtheria and tetanus). This assessment was used “as a proxy for the immune system’s ability to respond to disease in general”[24] and exhibited an association between PFAS exposure and weakened immune response.[25] PFAS exposure may also elicit a range of adverse effects associated with the liver, as long-chain PFAS tend to accumulate there.[26]

A 2007 study from the CDC found PFOA in the blood of 99.7% of Americans.[27] After a class-action lawsuit that revealed PFOA’s links to cancer and other diseases, DuPont (PFOA’s major producer) made a deal with the EPA[28] to phase out its use beginning in 2006 — however, this doesn’t mean that PFOA has disappeared from consumer products purchased prior to its phase out.

How to Avoid It

Opt for stainless steel, cast iron, or glass cookware. Avoid nonstick cookware, even if it’s labeled as “healthy”, “green”, or “nontoxic”, as these are unregulated terms. While we highly recommend avoiding all nonstick pans, if you must continue using them: turn down the heat below 400 degrees, ventilate your kitchen well during use, cease using them immediately if they become scratched or the coating is flaking or peeling, and use softer utensils like wood or silicone to avoid scratching the surface.

Cook at home when possible. To-go packaging from restaurants and grocery stores can be lined with PFAS. If opting for takeout, heat up food on a glass plate instead of within the to-go packaging, even if it’s labeled as microwave-safe. Or, use the stove top. Avoid any consumer products (particularly textiles) labeled “nonstick”, “easy care”, “no iron”, “waterproof”, “stain resistant”, and other similar terms, as they can be coated with PFAS.

Use waterproof products only when completely necessary. Opt for boots and outdoor wear that aren’t coated, when possible.

Avoid microwaveable popcorn and make stove top popcorn at home. Microwaveable popcorn bags can be coated with PFAS. Choose dental floss that uses natural coatings like vegetable wax or beeswax, or go with completely uncoated floss.