The Most Common Sources for Human Exposure to “Forever Chemicals” and Some Tips to Minimize Your Exposure

The Most Common Sources for Human Exposure to “Forever Chemicals” and Some Tips to Minimize Your Exposure

Forever chemicals, which include per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), phenols, and parabens, are everywhere and all around us. We ingest and inhale these synthetic chemicals through contaminated air, water, and food. They’re in our cookware, our clothes, our furniture, carpets, and packaging materials. They are practically impossible to avoid, and nearly everyone has them circulating within their bodies.

Forever chemicals are entirely man-made, break down slowly, and can remain in the body for months or years. The Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology recently published data demonstrating that people with cancer have significantly higher levels of forever chemicals in their bodies. Growing evidence suggests forever chemicals disrupt the production of hormones like estrogen, testosterone, and thyroid hormones; may be neurotoxic and contribute to Parkinson’s and other neurological diseases; reduce fertility; and cause high blood pressure, changes in liver enzymes, and low birth weight, and impair the immune system – among other problems.

Forever chemicals are in everything from food and beverage packaging to cosmetics like mascara, lipstick, and foundation to personal care products like shampoo, shaving cream, and body wash. But our main route of exposure is through our food and especially our drinking water. Certain fish and shellfish, like shrimp and crabs, for instance, can have high levels of PFAS, and many municipal water systems are contaminated with forever chemicals.

To try and minimize your exposure to forever chemicals, try to buy fresh, unpackaged items and thoroughly wash your produce. Check with your state and local public health departments about the status of PFAS levels in local drinking water. They typically track this data. If your town’s drinking water contains high levels of PFAs, consider using NSF/ANSI-certified filters to purify your water. Also avoid non-stick cookware and stain and water-resistant clothing and furniture. Avoid items that contain the words “fluoro” and “perfluoro” in their ingredients. Regularly vacuum to remove PFAS from your carpets and choose cosmetics or personal care products from lists like the EWG’s Skin Deep report. If you believe your health has been compromised from exposure to PFAs, you should contact an experienced law firm to explore your rights.