Like DDT when it was first introduced in the 1930s, PFAS were originally considered miracle products. They made fire-fighting foam more effective, prevented food from sticking to cookware, enabled water- and stain-resistant fabrics and carpets, and extended the wear time of lipstick and mascara. But like DDT, researchers are uncovering the dangers of PFAS long after they were unleashed in the world.
PFAS, formally known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, have extraordinarily strong bonds so they’re dubbed “forever chemicals.” They’re found nearly everywhere – from drinking water, dust and dairy products to fire-fighting foam, fish and food packaging. Researchers have linked them to a wide variety of illnesses, including decreased fertility in women, developmental delays in children, and an increased risk of some cancers such as prostate, kidney, and testicular cancer.
And they’re toxic in such tiny concentrations that the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) standards for drinking water limit two types of PFAS to four parts per trillion (ppt), or about one drop of water in 20 Olympic-sized swimming pools…