PFAS

"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:

"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:

Further Reading

Infographics

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

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.

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."

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/dec/13/netherlands-children-not-swallow-sea-foam-pfas-concerns

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

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


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

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

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. 

North America

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 

Oceana

Australia

Organizations

Europe