Why aren’t we banning the PFAS chemicals that have proved to be so toxic to our health and environment?

A similar story to the data centers has played out with PFAS chemicals. Commonly referred to as “forever chemicals”, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are man made chemicals found in everyday items like cookware, clothing and baby products. 

As the nickname would imply, the chemicals don’t break down, even in our bodies. And after over 60 years of contamination, we’re already at an alarming level of contamination. 

A rural US farmer downstream of massive chemical company DuPont fought for legal representation after devastating impacts to his land and animals. It was later found the “industry had multiple studies showing adverse health effects at least 21 years before they were reported in public findings.” The company knew of 8 female employees who worked with the chemical while pregnant and had severe birth defects in their babies. 

Thanks to increased research, we now know that PFAS exposure is linked to numerous health issues including cancer, liver damage, thyroid disease, asthma, and decreased fertility. Despite knowing this, scientists and researchers think health risks are still being underestimated. 

Virtually all of us have PFAS in our blood, including newborns, and they have been linked to 55 different diseases. They are probably the most toxic industrial chemicals produced, and should be phased out entirely.

PFAS chemicals are so toxic to human health, the EPA set the “safe level” for drinking water at 4 parts per trillion, which is below the detectable level. At that level, they estimate that 6% to 10% of the country’s public water systems are beyond an unsafe level. Park City and Salt Lake City both have found PFAS in their groundwater at levels higher than the EPA’s new limit.

A Guardian article outlined the story of Sandy Wynn-Stelt, and her husband, Joe, who had been drinking dangerous levels of PFAS in Michigan for years. Joe died from liver cancer, and the level of PFAS in Sandy’s blood soared to 750 times that of the national average. She suffers from thyroid problems and developed gout, and more serious issues are likely. 

Two of the earliest and most well-known PFAS, PFOA (used in Teflon) and PFOS were phased out in the U.S. between 2000–2015 under EPA pressure. Over 60 years after their production, and known contamination. However, manufacturers quickly replaced them with other PFAS, claiming they were safer because they break down faster. In reality, research has shown that many replacements are still toxic and persistent. 

It takes some research, but it’s worth it to opt for PFAS free products and brands. The Environmental Working Group put together a list of brands who have said they are phasing out PFAS. 

Certified water filters like a reverse osmosis or activated carbon system for drinking water have been shown to reduce PFAS.

You can reduce PFAS dust through regular cleaning with a HEPA vacuum and damp microfiber cloths. 

You can also use air purifiers with activated carbon filters to capture airborne PFAS.