What are “Forever Chemicals”?
Forever chemicals are otherwise known as persistent organic pollutants (POPs) as PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), also known as the Forever Chemicals, are a large chemical family of over 10,000 highly persistent chemicals that don’t occur in nature.
PFAS are the most persistent synthetic chemicals to date. PFAs (Polyfluoroalkyl Substances) are becoming known for their pervasive nature, not breaking down and bio-accumulating in our fat cells and have been found in the blood and breastmilk of people and wildlife all around the world.
They continue to be found in the environment and animals across the globe, even in the Arctic and Antarctic regions, due to the decades of large-scale manufacturing and uncontrolled pollution in the environment.
Most commonly found in nonstick and oil repellant or water resistant fabrics, along with pizza and microwave popcorn boxes their convenience comes at a cost. The best way to avoid PFAs is to:
- Swap Teflon and non-stick materials for stainless steel; and
- Avoid any takeaway or frozen food boxes that contain a waxy lining.
High PFAS levels have been found in including teas (likely from the teabag), pork, sports drinks, processed meat, butter, chips and bottled water.
PFAS can be toxic to both humans and wildlife. Two of the most studied chemicals in this family, PFOA and PFOS, have been shown to:
- Interfere with the hormonal system (so they are called endocrine disruptors)
- Interfere with the reproductive system and the development of the foetus
- Impact the immune system and have been linked to reduced responses to vaccines in children
- Promote the development of certain cancers (e.g. kidney and testicular cancer)
- PFAS can cross the blood-brain-barrier (BBB), accumulate in brain tissue and disrupt hormone signalling, risking neurotoxicity.
- Can alter neurotransmitter function and metabolism and prolonged exposure can lead to dynamic changes in neurological function, learning, and memory. (Brown-Leung, 2022).
How to reduce your exposure
Food: Avoid using non-stick cookware and eat home cooked meals over fast-food and takeaways. Eat plenty of fibre from plant foods. A certain bifidobacterial show promising results in helping to breakdown certain compounds that are in the intestinal tract.
Research funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) found that a diet high in fibre, found in plant-based foods, may help protect the body against PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonic acid), a forever chemical often found in water
Textiles: Check for PFAS- or PFC-free labels.
Cosmetics: Avoid products containing chemicals with “fluoro” or PTFE in their name (check the ingredient list), and avoid dental floss with PTFE coatings.
