12 Ways To Get PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’ Out Of Your Home And Life

ACROSS AMERICA — Scientists say there’s no question consumerism has a role in the environmental mess of “forever chemicals” — a problem that is likely to cost tens of billions of dollars just to scrub from the nation’s drinking water supply.

But the list of all the places these human-created per- and polyfluoroalkyl compounds, collectively known as PFAS, are found goes on forever, too. They’ve been making our lives oh-so-much-easier for about 75 years, whether used in non-stick pans, stain-resistant carpets, household cleaners, cosmetics and hundreds of other products.

They’re called forever chemicals because they are virtually indestructible and can linger endlessly in the environment — and in the human body, where PFAS pose a variety of serious health risks, among them damage to the liver and immune system, certain cancers and low birth weight, birth defects and developmental delays.

Among the multiple PFAS are PFOA and PFOS, which were used the most in the United States and are the most concerning to scientists. Although they are no longer manufactured, people can still be exposed to these carcinogens.

They are so ubiquitous that nearly all Americans have detectable levels of PFAS in their blood, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and a recent government study detected PFAS in nearly half the nation’s tap water.

Consumerism may have brought us to this point, but “it is impossible to shop your way out of it,” Tasha Stoiber, senior scientist for the Environmental Working Group, told National Geographic.

Still, these 12 tips can help:

1. Ditch the nonstick cookware in favor of stainless steel or cast iron. If you can’t afford to replace pots and pans, reduce the heat. Don’t be fooled by pans with PFOA-free labels, as the manufacturer may have replaced it with another PFAS, the advocacy group Clean Water Action warns.

2. Skip the Scotchguard sprays and other treatments that have PFAS when buying furniture and carpet. Instead, consider polyester or plastic-based fabrics that already are stain resistant and easy to clean. Or choose darker fabrics that don’t show stains as easily. Non-treated carpet can be more of a scavenger hunt, but asking for it signals demand to manufacturers, Clean Water Action says.

3. Install a water filtration system. At least 45 percent of the nation’s tap water has some type of PFAS, according to a study by the U.S. Geological Survey, and the Environmental Protection Agency estimates between 6 percent and 10 percent of the nation’s 66,000 public drinking water will find PFAS when they begin testing, required under a new federal rule. Utilities have five years to start testing, but for peace of mind now, install a water filtration system. Just make sure it has been independently tested and certified to remove PFAS, Consumer Reports advises.

4. Take your own metal or glass leftover containers to the restaurant. You’ll not only be able to avoid PFAS in most restaurant takeout containers, and you won’t have to worry about throwing them in the trash.

5. Slow down on fast food restaurants and takeout chains. Boxes for hamburgers and sandwiches may look like cardboard but they’re made with PFAS to make the packaging grease resistant. The same goes for waxy-looking pastry bags. The substances can leach back into the foods for direct exposure, especially if the food fatty, salty or acidic, according to a 2021 review in the journal Foods. Some research suggests PFAS levels are higher in people who regularly eat out, according to Consumer Reports.

6. Pop your own corn. Microwave popcorn is convenient, but most of the bags have PFAS coatings that can leach into the snack and disperse into the air when the bag is opened. Instead, pop it on the stove.

7. Be mindful of the dental floss and other personal care brands you buy. Tests found PFAS abundant in multiple well-known dental flosses, another route of direct exposure. The wellness site Mamavation and EHN.org, a publication of Environmental Health Sciences, found detectable levels of PFAS in a third of 39 brand of floss tested. Four of the products were about 7 percent PFAS, and one was nearly 25 percent PFAS.

8. Read labels and shop carefully. When shopping for household, body-care and beauty products, read the ingredient list, and if it mentions PTFE or “perfluor,” don’t buy them. The CDC has a list of common products harboring PFAS.

9. But be skeptical of labels. The Natural Resources Defense Council says that consumers, generally, “you’re better off assuming that something does contain PFAS, particularly if you find keywords like ‘waterproof’ ‘stain-repellent,’ or ‘dirt-repellant’ on the tag.” Some apparel brands have taken action to remove PFAS from their merchandise, including Levi Strauss & Co., Victoria’s Secret, Deckers and Keen.

10. Consider silicone period products. Medical-grade silicon insertables such as menstrual cups are a good replacement for traditional pads, tampons and even period underwear. The New York Times had 44 period and incontinence products tested, concluding that “shoppers should be skeptical of claims that period underwear and similar products are PFAS-free.”

11. Check where your fish was sourced. Because PFAS pollution is in freshwater lakes (and oceans), fish can be easily contaminated. According to a study published in March in the journal Environmental Research, eating a single serving of freshwater fish contaminated with PFOS, an especially toxic form of PFAS, could be equivalent to drinking PFOS-contaminated water for a month. The EPA has a list of state, territory, and tribal fish advisory contacts who can advise further.

12. Be careful about bottled water. It may seem counterintuitive because so much of the nation’s tap water supply contains PFAS, but drinking bottled water may exacerbate the problem. Consumer reports tested 47 bottled waters and found that 43 of them had detectable levels of PFAS. A study led by Johns Hopkins University researchers found PFAS in 39 of 100 bottled waters tested. This report lists some safe alternatives.