Potential Health Impact of Persistent Pollutants Known as PFAS

Potential Health Impact of Persistent Pollutants Known as PFAS

PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a group of over 9,000 endocrine-disrupting chemicals that have been in use since the 1940s. These chemicals were designed to be strong and durable, helping products resist heat, oil, stains, grease, and water. However, they have raised concerns due to their persistence in the environment and potential harmful health effects.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has declared the two most-studied types - perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) - as dangerous substances. Researchers have only studied a handful of PFAS thoroughly, but collected data suggests they can cause a variety of health issues.

Exposure to PFAS can occur through drinking water contaminated with PFAS, eating fish from contaminated water, consuming food grown near a PFAS manufacturing facility, or using consumer products that contain PFAS. In everyday life, Americans interact with these chemicals in products such as clothing, cosmetics, firefighting foam, nonstick cookware, rugs, upholstery, and food packaging.

One of the key concerns is the impact on the immune system. PFAS can reduce the body's ability to fight off infections and reduce a child's immune system's response to vaccines. High exposure can also cause reproductive challenges, such as reduced semen quality and sperm count, and difficulty getting pregnant. During pregnancy, PFAS exposure may lead to pregnancy-induced hypertension (preeclampsia).

Long-term exposure to PFAS is associated with numerous serious health effects, including cancer, metabolic, immune, developmental, and reproductive disorders. The effects of PFAS on health vary depending on exposure, the individual, age, sex, ethnicity, health status, and genetic disposition.

PFAS can build up in the body with repeated exposure, leading to problematic thyroid function, causing hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism. Exposure during pregnancy can result in lower birth weights, reduced sperm quality and count, increased risk of obesity, early onset of puberty, bone issues, and behavioral changes in children.

While people living in the U.S. can't be certain that all food wrappers they interact with are PFAS-free, the overall risk of dietary exposure is far lower than it used to be. Some simple ways to reduce exposure include asking your local water utility to test the water for PFAS, avoiding nonstick cookware, avoiding stain-resistant coatings on furniture and rugs, bringing glass containers from home for to-go food, and paying attention to local health advisories about agricultural products and drinking water.

The scientific consensus from multiple recent studies indicates that PFAS exposure leads to chronic adverse health outcomes affecting multiple organ systems, immune function, metabolic regulation, and development across the lifespan. The persistence of PFAS in the environment and their accumulation in the human body mean that these health effects may emerge or worsen over many years, making exposure a significant public health concern.

In response to these concerns, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced in February 2024 that companies would be voluntarily phasing out food packaging treated with PFAS. Dr. Shewmon encourages awareness of PFAS and paying more attention to the products you buy and consume, but not to create anxiety about forever chemicals. Instead, it's about making informed choices to minimize potential exposure.

[1] ATSDR. (2021). Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS). Retrieved from https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/tfacts147.pdf [2] EPA. (2020). Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS). Retrieved from https://www.epa.gov/pfas [3] C8 Science Panel. (2016). C8 Health Project Final Report. Retrieved from https://www.c8sciencepanel.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/C8-Health-Project-Final-Report.pdf [4] National Toxicology Program. (2019). Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS). Retrieved from https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/go/pfas [5] Environmental Working Group. (2020). PFAS Contamination in the United States. Retrieved from https://www.ewg.org/pfas/map/us-pfas-contamination-map

1. Despite their usefulness in various consumer products, PFAS, a group of over 9,000 chemicals, have raised concerns due to their potential harmful health effects and persistence in the environment.
2. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has declared perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) as dangerous substances among PFAS, and researchers have suggested they can cause a variety of health issues.
3. Exposure to PFAS can occur through various means, including consuming food grown near a manufacturing facility, using consumer products that contain PFAS, or drinking contaminated water.
4. One of the key concerns among health and wellness experts is the impact on the immune system, as PFAS can reduce the body's ability to fight off infections and affect a child's immune system response to vaccines.
5. Long-term exposure to PFAS is associated with numerous serious health effects, including chronic diseases like cancer, metabolic, immune, developmental, and reproductive disorders.
6. PFAS can build up in the body with repeated exposure, leading to problematic health issues such as thyroid dysfunction, lower birth weights, reduced sperm quality and count, increased risk of obesity, early onset of puberty, behavioral changes in children, and bone issues.
7. In response to these concerns, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced companies will be voluntarily phasing out food packaging treated with PFAS, and increased awareness and informed decisions are encouraged to minimize potential exposure to PFAS.

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