What To Know About PFAS, aka “Forever Chemicals”
You may have recently heard about PFAS, or “forever chemicals”, in the news or on a podcast, and that’s because more and more people are being impacted by this cocktail of chemicals in their daily life. PFAS are found in water-resistant fabrics, parchment paper, nonstick cookware, and our drinking water. PFAS chemicals have a long half-life which means they take years to detox from the body, and they can poorly impact our health. In order to learn how we can avoid PFAS in our daily lives let’s take a quick look at where these chemicals came from and what’s being done to fix the problem.
Where PFAS Came From
PFAS, or per and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are commonly referred to as “forever chemicals” because they do not break down easily in the environment. They were created in the 1930’s at DuPont, and in the 1950’s they were added to consumer products for every mainstream household. PFAS are resistant to heat, oil, water, and time so they made cooking easier, carpets stain resistant, ironing obsolete, and fire fighting foams more effective. The problem with PFAS however is that they were widely used and dumped into environments without proof of safety.
Now that we are learning about the health consequences of our exposure, it is disheartening to know that the companies that profited from PFAS knew for 50 years that the health implications were numerous, including cancer. Both DuPont and 3M have faced lawsuits based on their negligence to stop production of PFAS and not properly protect the public. Although recent legal outcomes seem inadequate it is a step in the right direction. The story of PFAS is exactly why Artisan Home Health seeks to teach about reducing environmental toxins so that we can preserve our health in real time.
You can read more about PFAS history from the renowned investigative reporter Sharon Lerner here:
How PFAS Chemicals Impact Our Health
In the 1960’s it was secretly known at 3M and Dupont that PFAS chemicals were in the blood of every human being tested. Over time these companies documented that PFAS could cause damage to the liver, immune system, a developing fetus, the reproductive system, and cause different forms of cancer. Internal memos show PFAS was referred to as the most insidious pollutant in decades. It is estimated that there are as many as 12,000 PFAS in total.
We invite PFAS into our homes and lifestyle by what we do, consume, and buy. PFAS accumulate in our bodies over time, and since these chemicals do not break down easily it can take years to detox even a fraction of our exposure. Our children are the most vulnerable to these toxicants because they can inherit exposures in utero and through breastfeeding, and they drink and eat more per pound of body weight as they’re developing. We can reduce our exposure to PFAS through the foods we buy, the products we use, and the lifestyle we lead. That’s certainly empowering so let’s get into how to avoid them with a nontoxic lifestyle.
How To Avoid PFAS In Our Daily Lives
Our bodies are incredibly resilient, and priming them for health can start with cleaning up our homes. Here are a few affordable ways to reduce PFAS:
Cook more home cooked meals as this will reduce the PFAS that leaches into your food from packaging.
Keep the house dust at a minimum since PFAS will accumulate there and be ingested through indoor air.
Opt for clothing & textiles that are PFAS-free.
Avoid conventional Scotchguard and choose a PFAS-free option such as this one.
You can download 5 more tips to reduce your exposure at home below.
Fortunately the laws are changing around PFAS use and clean up, and we have the power to prioritize health and a nontoxic lifestyle to best avoid them. Consider your own Blueprint for Nontoxic Living as a gift to yourself and your loved ones to fortify your external environment so you can have the safe home you deserve.
Interested in exploring nontoxic living but not sure where to start? We’re here to create your signature Blueprint that is practical and actionable so you don’t have to stress about next steps. Remember that your health is the best investment you can make and you’re worth it!
Still curious about the backstory of DuPont and PFAS? The film Dark Waters tells the story of the lawyer who took on the unprecedented environmental case to expose PFAS deception and harm, here:
