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PFAS : "Forever Chemicals"
PFAS: A Growing Public Health Concern
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), often referred to as "forever chemicals," have been a subject of intense scrutiny due to their persistence in the environment and potential adverse health effects. Recent research has further solidified concerns regarding their impact on human health, particularly in relation to oxidative stress and cytotoxicity.
Scientific Findings on PFAS Toxicity
One of the first studies to specifically test short-chain PFASs for their effect on oxidative stress, available here, demonstrated a clear link between increased oxidative stress and these chemicals. Oxidative stress is a key factor in various health issues, including inflammation, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases. Additional research, such as this study on cytotoxicity, has replicated similar findings, reinforcing concerns about the widespread presence of PFAS in human systems.
With over 3,800 published articles on PFAS toxicity on PubMed alone, scientific understanding of these chemicals' harmful effects continues to grow. This expanding body of evidence is increasing pressure on the global health community to take decisive action in regulating and potentially banning these substances.
Alarming Presence in Water Supplies
The urgency of addressing PFAS contamination was further highlighted in a study released on March 22, 2024. The U.S. Geological Survey tested municipal water supplies across the country and found PFAS contamination in 45% of them. The full report can be accessed here.
Moving Towards a PFAS-Free Future
The evidence against PFAS is mounting, and regulatory agencies worldwide must take swift action to mitigate their impact. Stricter regulations, improved filtration technologies, and alternative chemical formulations are essential in protecting public health from the dangers of these persistent pollutants.
Conclusion
PFAS contamination is a significant and growing concern, with strong evidence linking these chemicals to adverse health effects. As research continues to reveal their dangers, global action is needed to limit exposure and prevent further environmental and health damage. With increasing awareness and advocacy, we may soon see meaningful policy changes aimed at eliminating these toxic substances from our daily lives.
Updates:
As a class, PFAS now encompasses 4,000–5,000 synthetic chemicals in two main classes, short-chain and long-chain. They have been detected globally—even in remote locations like Antarctica and Arctic ecosystems borne there by air, rain, and migratory animals en.wikipedia.org+1washingtonpost.com+1. In the U.S. ~31% of groundwater samples and ~75% of urban tap systems contain unsafe PFAS levels epa.gov+15en.wikipedia.org+15jwafs.mit.edu+15. They have now been linked to, not just increased oxidation, but also cancer (kidney, testicular), liver enzyme changes, high cholesterol, pregnancy complications, developmental delays, reduced vaccine response, and hormone disruption and the EPA has stated that there is no safe exposure threshold—"nearly zero risk level" meaning that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has determined that there is essentially no level of safe exposure to some of the most well-studied PFAS chemicals, specifically PFOA(Perfluorooctanoic acid) and PFOS (Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid). In June 2022, the EPA released updated interim health advisory levels, drastically lowering its prior recommendations. The revised advisory levels are:
- PFOA: 0.004 parts per trillion (ppt)
- FOS: 0.02 ppt
To put this in perspective; 1 part per Trillion is roughly equivalent to 1 drop in 20 Olympic size swimming pools.
One good thing to come out of all this research is that we now know that Reverse Osmosis will remove a significant amount of the PFAS from your drinking water. Up to 99% of long-chain PFAS are removed and a significant amount of short-chain ones, though the results vary depending on the particular chemical.
- A 2020 study published in Water Research found that RO removed over 95% of 10 different PFAS compounds.
- The EPA and the Interstate Technology & Regulatory Council (ITRC) both list RO as a best available technology (BAT) for PFAS treatment.
- NSF International (NSF/ANSI Standard 58) certifies certain RO systems for PFAS reduction performance.
Chemically Speaking
The per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of chemicals used to make fluoropolymer coatings and products that resist heat, oil, stains, grease, and water. Fluoropolymer coatings can be in a variety of products.
Centers for Disease Control : cdc.gov