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What Are PFAS? A Guide to Forever Chemicals

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Perfluorinated and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS) are a large group of manufactured chemicals now found in almost every corner of the planet. These chemicals feature in so many consumer products that they virtually fill our closets and pantries.

But research has shown that some PFAS can be harmful to our health, with exposure linked to numerous conditions, including high cholesterol, thyroid disease, and even cancer. What’s more, scientists aren’t sure if they ever fully degrade in the environment, and they break down very slowly, hence the nickname “forever chemicals.”

The more we understand about PFAS, the easier it is to avoid exposure. Here are some facts to know about PFAS.

What Are PFAS, or Forever Chemicals?

PFAS are manufactured chemicals that are best known for their nonstick properties. They’re resistant to heat, water, oil, and grease, which has made them extremely useful in modern life.

These properties arise from their chemical structure: molecules consisting of carbon and fluorine atoms that form one of the strongest bonds in chemistry. This bond gives them super strength and nonstick properties, but it’s also what makes PFAS almost impossible to break down in nature.

“They can withstand a lot of conditions, and that’s why they're so helpful in manufacturing,” says Erin Bell, PhD, a professor of environmental health sciences at the school of public health at the State University of New York in Albany and a co-leader of a multisite study on the human health effects of PFAS exposure.

 “That's what makes them so persistent. They stay in the environment. They stay in our bodies.”
That persistence can take a real toll. One study estimates that the annual disease burden from PFAS exposure in the United States is at least $5.5 billion.

What Kind of Products Contain PFAS?

PFAS were introduced to American consumers in the 1950s in products like Teflon-coated pans and Scotchgard fabric protector. Later came Gore-Tex fabrics and Stainmaster carpets.

Fast-forward to today: PFAS are in so many products that there’s barely a store shelf that doesn’t have them.

The following products include PFAS:

  • Nonstick cookware
  • Microwavable popcorn bags
  • Pizza boxes
  • Paper and plastic food packaging
  • Fast-food and candy wrappers
  • Creams and lotions
  • Shampoos and conditioners
  • Makeup, especially waterproof cosmetics
  • Dental floss
  • Nail polish
  • Waterproof shoes and clothing
  • Outdoor gear and rainwear
  • Ski wax
  • Stain-proof carpets and upholstery
  • Cleaners and detergents
  • Floor waxes and polish
  • Paints, varnishes, and sealants

How Are We Exposed to PFAS?

Though most people are exposed in various ways, Dr. Bell says, the bulk of our exposure comes from drinking water.

Major sources of PFAS water pollution have been paper mills, textile and chemical plants, landfills, wastewater facilities, airports, and military bases where PFAS-filled fire foam was used.

 When PFAS pollute nearby streams and rivers, they can end up in drinking water. The Environmental Working Group estimates that roughly 165 million people have exposure to PFAS through tap water alone.

PFAS can be inhaled through dust particles that float around our homes and offices. Because they’re found in food packaging, we also consume them in our food.

 When PFAS pollute farm water or fertilizer, the plants and animals we eat are affected.

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) estimates that more than 98 percent of Americans have some level of PFAS in their blood.

Certain workers have a higher risk of exposure, including chemical plant workers, military personnel, and firefighters who wear PFAS-lined gear like gloves and hoods

 and who work with certain fire foams.

Are PFAS Harmful to Our Health?

Researchers have found links between PFAS and an increased risk of the following conditions:

  • Ulcerative colitis

  • Cancers, including kidney and testicular cancers, with limited evidence supporting a link between PFAS and some markers of breast or thyroid cancer in women

  • Thyroid disease

  • High cholesterol

  • Preeclampsia

  • Low birth weight

  • Developmental problems in children

  • Decreased childhood vaccine response

  • Liver damage

  • Impaired immune function

  • Decreased fertility in women

In fact, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences classifies PFAS as endocrine disruptors, which interfere with the proper function of the body’s hormones.

The largest study to date on health conditions linked to PFAS was carried out almost 20 years ago in a community exposed to perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in West Virginia. The residents won a class action lawsuit against chemical maker DuPont, which owned a local plant that released PFOA into the Ohio River.

How Do PFAS Affect Children?

Research has linked PFAS to reduced reactions to vaccinations in both adults and children.

“There seems to be a consistent association with the immune system in children in terms of a reduced response to vaccines,” Bell says, “meaning they have the potential to be less effective.” But researchers are still learning about the possible health effects from PFAS exposure, she says.

Research clearly shows that exposure to PFAS begins in the womb.

 “PFAS does cross the placental barrier,” says Laura Anderko, PhD, RN, an adjunct lecturer for the environmental studies program at Georgetown University in Washington, DC, and an environmental health nurse consultant. Infants also consume them through breast milk.

Children and babies are more vulnerable to toxic exposures because they’re still growing and developing, says Dr. Anderko. “As the baby is developing and growing — its neurodevelopmental system, the immune system, the endocrine system — it's more at risk of being damaged because of all the development that's occurring,” she says. Both Anderko and Bell were members of a committee guiding the National Academies on PFSA testing and health outcomes.

How Long Does It Take to Eliminate PFAS From Our Bodies?

The chemicals can be slow to leave the human body. The compounds have half-lives that range from days to decades, according to the ATSDR,

 depending on a person’s diet, health, and exposure history. This is especially true for women, who lose PFAS through menstruation, childbirth, and breastfeeding, says Bell.
The two most well-known PFAS chemicals, PFOA and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), have half-lives of about three to five years. Newer PFAS such as perfluorobutanoic acid and GenX

 are less persistent and have shorter half-lives, says Bell. “But we cannot say that makes them safe,” she says. “It just means that they're not in our body as long.”

How Can I Remove PFAS From My Drinking Water?

Although most of our exposure to PFAS comes from drinking water, there are a variety of ways to remove the chemicals from water to reduce our exposure.

One of the most effective methods is through reverse osmosis, a process that filters water through a semipermeable membrane.

 Another is granular activated carbon filters, which run water through high-carbon organic materials.

Filtration systems can be installed at the point of entry — on or near your home’s main water line — or at the point of use, like in tap units, in refrigerators, and with water pitchers.

 These and other filters are available for consumers to install in their homes, although they can be pricey and research has shown that some are only partially effective at removing PFAS.

How Else Can I Limit My Exposure to PFAS?

Besides filtering your drinking water, there are several ways to decrease your overall exposure to PFAS.

Avoid Products Advertised as Nonstick or Stain- or Water-Resistant

These include stain-proof carpets, furniture, clothing, and outdoor gear. U.S. manufacturers are not required to notify shoppers when a product contains PFAS, so it can be tricky to find PFAS-free products.

 But a good rule of thumb is to stay away from products labeled “nonstick,” says Bell.

The same goes for cookware. If the label says “Teflon,” it could expose you to PFAS. Alternative cookware options include cast iron, stainless steel, aluminum, and ceramic pots and pans.

“I tell folks to throw away their nonstick pans, because even if it's not PFOA or PFOS, there are other PFAS chemicals in there,” Anderko says. “The science is not out yet on those newer chemicals.”

Pass on Foods Packaged in Nonstick Wrappers and Containers

Some PFAS that coat packaging can leach into food. “A lot of takeout containers and bakery bags have this coating to keep the grease from leaking,” says Anderko, adding that food-labeling laws address the contents of food, not packaging.

“Unless PFAS were used in the food product, then they don’t need to list it,” she says. “Better for your heart and better for the rest of your body not to eat as much fried, greasy food with packaging containing PFAS.”

Steer Clear of Products That Have 'Fluoro,' 'Polytetrafluoroethylene,' or 'Teflon' Listed as Ingredients

Products that may contain these ingredients include lipsticks, makeup powders, and personal care products such as dental floss and shampoo. The Environmental Working Group has a database that tracks thousands of personal-care items that contain PFAS and other toxic ingredients.

Get Your Water Tested

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires most public water providers to test for PFAS. If your home is connected to a public water system, contact your local water utility and request recent test results. If you have a private well, you can have your water tested by a private lab.

Be Careful Where You Fish

Fish are a product of the water they live in, and many lakes and streams carry pollutants. Fish take in these contaminants, storing them in their fat and muscle tissues. Many states and municipalities publish information about contaminated fish, where they are, and how much is safe to consume. Historically, fish pollutants have included PCBs and mercury, but PFAS are being detected more often.

Why Do Manufacturers Make Products With PFAS?

PFAS have some good uses. The chemicals are found in construction materials that build homes and cities. They waterproof outdoor gear and help power airplanes. They’re found in implantable medical devices like heart stents and pacemakers. And they go into parts that build cell phones and semiconductors.

Their nonstick and heat- and water-resistant properties make them highly useful in the construction, manufacturing, aeronautics, automotive, and technology sectors.

Are There Laws to Protect People From PFAS?

In 2016, the EPA set a lifetime health advisory level of 70 parts per trillion for PFOA and PFOS in drinking water. But it’s not an enforceable guideline. There is no federal regulation of PFAS in drinking water.

Instead, regulation is handled by the states, which vary widely in their approaches to controlling PFAS. Some states have almost no protections, while Maine, Vermont, New York, New Jersey, and California have strict rules to limit PFAS in water and consumer goods.

U.S. manufacturers have phased out many uses of PFOA and PFOS, but some continue to use them, and the chemicals are still in imported goods. However, current EPA rules include a timeline to restrict PFAS across several industries.

In June 2022, the agency issued new recommendations to cap PFAS in drinking water — PFOA, PFOS, and GenX included — at levels that are drastically lower than the current advisory.

If PFAS Are So Hard to Break Down, Can We Ever Get Rid of Them?

Scientists and engineers are working hard to design technologies to remove PFAS from our air, soil, and water. Existing PFAS disposal methods include incineration and landfills. But these processes are imperfect; in some cases, the chemicals can leach back into the environment.

PFAS are not going away anytime soon. But awareness is growing, and researchers are learning more about these chemicals every day, Anderko says. Solutions need to come from a coordinated effort at the federal level, one that’s “informed by scientific evidence” and the general public, she says.

Consumers can choose whether to buy PFAS-laden goods and products, she adds. “We were sold this bill of goods, ‘better living through chemistry,’” — an old slogan by DuPont — but “the reality is, not always and not usually. So we have the power through what we consume and what we buy,“ Anderko says. “We should use it.”

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