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Table of Contents
Introduction
Introduction
"In 1946, DuPont introduced Teflon to the world, changing millions of people’s lives – and polluting their bodies. Today, the family of compounds including Teflon, commonly called PFAS, is found not only in pots and pans but also in the blood of people around the world, including 99 percent of Americans. PFAS chemicals pollute water, do not break down, and remain in the environment and people for decades. Some scientists call them “forever chemicals.""
"Per- or polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS chemicals, are a family of thousands of chemicals used to make water-, grease- and stain-repellent coatings for a vast array of consumer goods and industrial applications. These chemicals are notoriously persistent in the environment and the human body, and some have been linked to serious health hazards." "A robust body of research reveals a chemical crisis of epic proportions. Nearly all Americans are affected by exposure to PFAS chemicals in drinking water, food and consumer products." and "The two most notorious PFAS chemicals – PFOA, formerly used by DuPont to make Teflon, and PFOS, an ingredient in 3M’s Scotchgard – were phased out under pressure from the Environmental Protection Agency after scientific evidence of serious health problems came to light. The manufacture, use and importation of both PFOA and PFOS are now effectively banned in the U.S., but evidence suggests the next-generation PFAS chemicals that have replaced them may be just as toxic. PFAS chemicals pollute water, do not break down and remain in the environment and in people for decades."6
According to the above source, studies have linked PFAS chemicals to:
Testicular, kidney, liver and pancreatic cancer.
Weakened childhood immunity.
Low birth weight.
Endocrine disruption.
Increased cholesterol.
Weight gain in children and dieting adults.
"EWG scientists combed the latest and best independent research to develop truly safe standards for contaminants in drinking water. Unlike government regulations, EWG standards aren’t based on political or economic compromises but rather solely on what’s necessary to protect human health, with an adequate margin of safety." "The vast majority of the [the USA's] drinking water supplies get a passing grade from federal and state regulatory agencies. But many of the 278 contaminants detected by local utilities’ tests are found at levels that may be legal under the Safe Drinking Water Act or state regulations but are well above levels authoritative scientific studies have found to pose health risks." "...research shows that the nation’s water supply is under assault from a toxic stew of pollutants: the toxic fluorinated chemicals called PFAS, lead from old pipes, runoff from farmland that carries millions of tons of pesticides and fertilizer chemicals into rivers and streams, and too many more." and "Even for chemicals that are regulated, the legal limit is often hundreds of times higher than the health standards recommended by scientists and public health agencies. Too often, legal limits are based on what can be achieved cheaply, with little or no regard for public health. And water treatment facilities in many communities, especially in rural areas, are outdated, overloaded or underfunded, as urgently needed investments in water infrastructure get postponed year after year."3
According to EWG You can avoid PFAS in your home by:
Avoid buying fabrics treated with nonstick chemicals such as:
Teflon.
Scotchgard.
Stainmaster.
Polartec.
Gore-tex.
Use stainless steel and cast iron cookware.
Skip optional stain-repellant treatment on new carpets and furniture.
Eat less fast food and skip the microwave popcorn.
Stay up to date on all EWG’s latest PFAS analysis.
Further Reading
Further Reading
Researchers build global emission inventory of PFSAs (Article, 30/Mar/2017) - Chemical Watch
Bioaccumulation of perfluoroalkyl carboxylates (PFCAs) and perfluoroalkane sulfonates (PFSAs) by earthworms (Eisenia fetida) in soil (Abstract) - ScienceDirect
The Dirty Secret of Government Drinking Water Standards (Article and video, October/2019) - EWG
EWG's Guide to Avoiding PFAS Chemicals (.pdf, updated June/2018) - EWG
Farming and Tap Water (Page to more resources) "For millions of Americans in farm country, tap water comes with an unwanted dose of toxic contaminants – pesticides, fertilizers, animal wastes and other substances that are associated with health hazards, including some types of cancer, birth defects and communicable diseases." Plus sources about Ag Runoff, Toxic Algae, Factory Farm harm to Watersheds, Private Wells, Nitrate pollution, Atrazine in tap water, etc. - EWG
‘Forever Chemicals’: Teflon, Scotchguard and The PFAS Contamination Crisis - EWG
Is Teflon in Your Cosmetics? (Article, 14/Mar/2018) "PFASs were also found in sunscreen, shampoo and shaving cream." - EWG
Infographics
Infographics
Video
Video
PFAS: The Science of Dark Waters (5:54 min Video, 29/Mar/2020) - "This video was written by a research scientist in PFAS treatments." - Our Eden
Where are PFAs Found
Where are PFAs Found
Cookware
Cookware
Frying pans and other cookware with non-stick surfaces can easily shed PFAS into our food, however "Teflon Flu" or "polymer fume fever" can result when cookware is overheated, releasing airborne chemicals into homes and businesses.
Scientists warn that you should never heat an empty non-stick pan, and to always use the extractor fan in your stove hood when cooking with these implements.
Symptoms of "polymer fume fever" include:
Fever
Discomfort
Shortness of Breath
Chest Tightness
Dry Cough
Food
Food
The following list does not mean all food listed always contains PFAS, simply that it has been found in test samples from affected farms.
Carrots
Chicken Eggs
Cranberries grown in polluted bogs.
Garlic
Spinach
Wild-Caught Fish "Eating fish from a local lake or stream could give you a giant dose of hazardous "forever chemicals," equal to nearly a month of drinking highly contaminated water, researchers have calculated.
...
The problem is widespread across the US. The Environmental Working Group assembled a map, below, of the more than 500 samples of PFAS-contaminated fish. The instances span all 48 contiguous states.
...
Eating just one freshwater fish could be equal to a month of drinking water contaminated with 48 parts per trillion of PFOS, EWG researchers calculated. Last year, the EPA lowered the level of PFOS in drinking water it considers safe to 0.02 parts per trillion." There have also been "PFAS contamination advisories for fishing spots in Sweden"
...
"The new EWG study found that the median total PFAS level in freshwater fish was 278 times higher than that of commercially sold fish tested in the last three years."Shrimp and Lobster were found to have the highest PFAS levels out of the studied seawater animals.
Fertilizers
Fertilizers
Texas Ranchers Say ‘Forever Chemicals’ in Waste-Based Fertilizers Ruined their Land
5:49 minute video "The fertilizer maker says its products are safe, and that the government supports using it as a valuable practice that recycles nutrients to farmland."
Water
Water
PFAS has been found in all bodies of water including well water, aquifers, lakes and rivers. As it flows out to sea, our oceans are increasingly affected by PFAS.
Solutions
Solutions
Banning PFAS and the production of other toxic "forever chemicals" should be our primary point of attack, but this section also provides some other, (possibly easier) more accessible options we can turn to in the time it takes politicians to take action.
Scroll down to the Laws section to see what the situation is in your area.
PFAS Cleanup
PFAS Cleanup
Click the PFAS Cleanup button to learn about different ways to remove these forever chemicals from soil, water, and even human blood.
These include biological solutions which can be affordable, but slow in helping with PFAS cleanup.
PFAS-Free Alternatives
PFAS-Free Alternatives
The Best Non-Toxic Car Seats (free from flame retardants) 2022 baby car seats were found to contain PFAS and other harmful chemicals, so this link lists safer alternatives. "9 of 18 seats had levels of fluorine at levels suggesting PFAS were intentionally added to the fabric"
Laws and Safety by Region
Laws and Safety by Region
Laws and regulations, particularly banning PFAS should be our primary focus, since they are currently being produced far faster than we can decontaminate our planet and food sources.
This section includes information we have managed to find on the topic of PFAS laws around the world.
You can help urge your local and national leaders to take a stand against "forever chemicals" in a variety of ways.
Europe
Europe
While it looks like some people are working hard to get rid of PFAS in Europe, politicians don't seem to be taking the threat particularly seriously.
Latest Updates (as of May, 2024)
Latest Updates (as of May, 2024)
"Universal PFAS restriction proposal:
Committees for Risk Assessment and for Socio-Economic Analysis meet in June - stakeholder registration open until 9 May 2024
Dossier Submitter’s ongoing role in the PFAS restriction proposal -
news from German BAuA, 15 April 2024Next steps for PFAS restriction proposal, 13 March 2024
Highlights from November RAC and SEAC meetings, 7 Dec 2023
Enforcement Forum's advice on enforceability of the proposed PFAS restriction,
8 Nov 2023All comments submitted to the PFAS restriction proposal now online,
2 Nov 2023
Restriction proposal on PFAS in firefighting foams:
Other:
North America
North America
USA
USA
"So far, no federal agency has put a legal limit on PFAS compounds in food — the EPA’s levels are merely guidelines..." - BuzzFeedNews: PFAS Food Farms Milk Produce
2:20 minute video discussing the push to have the EPA held accountable for protecting farmers and consumers from forever chemicals.
Oceana
Oceana
Australia
Australia
"There are currently no restrictions on domestic or international trade in agricultural products in relation to PFAS." - Victoria State Government
Maps of Forever Chemicals
Maps of Forever Chemicals
Asia
Asia
Europe
Europe
Maps of European Emissions and Concentrations of PFOS and PFOA Scroll down in inner window to about half way to see PFAS concentration maps.
Italy
Italy
Com’è il livello di PFAS nell’acqua di Sossano? Click the map to see a larger version.
Netherlands
Netherlands
UK
UK
PFAS - in UK Environment Scroll down to see England-only map of PFAS contamination.
North America
North America
Caribbean
Caribbean
Central America
Central America
Atmospheric Concentrations of New Persistent Organic Pollutants and Emerging Chemicals of Concern in the Group of Latin America and Caribbean (GRULAC) Region Scroll down to see maps showing different concentrations of different chemical pollutants.
Oceana
Oceana
Australian PFAS Chemicals Map Also shows Lord Howe Island and Tasmania
South America
South America
Atmospheric Concentrations of New Persistent Organic Pollutants and Emerging Chemicals of Concern in the Group of Latin America and Caribbean (GRULAC) Region Scroll down to see maps showing different concentrations of different chemical pollutants.
Organizations
Organizations
PFAS Central "provides current and curated information about PFAS, including press, peer-reviewed scientific articles, meetings, job listings, and consumer information."
Europe
Europe
ECHA: European Chemical Agency "We protect health and the environment through our work for chemical safety"
North America
North America
USA
USA
Maine
The Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA) "Join MOFGA in fighting to protect farmers across the United States and take action against the continued spread of PFAS on farmland today!"
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