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December 7th, 2023
Forever chemicals are everywhere. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 97% of Americans have forever chemicals in their blood. A recent report in the Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology found significantly higher levels of forever chemicals in the bodies of cancer patients. In addition, forever chemical exposure has been linked to neurological problems, including Parkinson’s, reduced fertility, low birth weight, high blood pressure, changes in liver enzymes, and thyroid dysfunction, among other adverse health effects.
Forever chemicals include per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), phenols, and parabens, and we are exposed to them on practically a daily basis. Exposure comes primarily through contaminated water and food — even air. Forever chemicals are nearly impossible to avoid. But knowing the sources through which we are infected with these chemicals can hopefully help reduce our exposure.
The main route of exposure is through our diets. Fish, particularly shellfish like shrimp and crabs, are often identified as having high levels of PFAS. But the most common and researched source is our drinking water. Forever chemicals are also in our cookware, furniture, packaging materials, clothes, and carpets. PFAS is used to coat paper and cardboard food and beverage packaging, where these chemicals can leach into our food. PFAS are in waterproof mascara, lipstick, foundation, and other cosmetics. PFAS are in lotions, shampoos, shaving creams, body washes, and other personal care products. And there are 15,000 PFAS still around today that remain insufficiently studied or un-researched altogether.
To minimize your exposure, look for products that claim to be “PFAS-free.” Avoid stain and water-resistant clothes and furniture and non-stick cookware (and especially avoid scraping it in a way that can remove the non-stick coating). Avoid items that contain the words “fluoro” and “perfluoro” in their ingredients. Vacuum regularly to help remove PFAS from your carpets. Check out the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep report when buying cosmetics or personal care products. Try to buy fresh, unpackaged food items and reduce takeout consumption if possible to avoid forever chemicals in the containers. Thoroughly wash your fruits and vegetables before eating them. If possible, consider using NSF/ANSI-certified water purifier filters to purify your water.
If you believe that your health has been adversely impacted by exposure to forever chemicals, call an experienced law firm to explore your rights to hold the companies that poisoned the planet with these chemicals responsible.
