What are PFAS and why are we concerned about them and their effect on our health?
Last Updated on February 24, 2025 by Brenda
Listen to the podcast here: Pipe Perils
Written by: Billy Billingsley, Quay County Climate and Health Coordinator
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, also known as PFAS, refer to more than 12,000 different types of man-made fluorinated chemicals with widespread applications that have become a topic of concern due public health risks. Nicknamed “forever chemicals” because they don’t break down easily, or at all, PFAS can be found in water, soil, air, water, animal tissue, and even in our bodies.
PFAS have been linked to a variety of adverse health risks including, but not limited to:
- Disruption of thyroid disfunction
- Increased risk of certain types of cancer, including testicular, bladder, or kidney
- Reduced ability to fight infections and reduced vaccine responses
- Increased cholesterol levels
- Increased birth defects
What are some popular products that contain PFAS?
PFAS chemicals were manufactured as far back as World War II and were found to be resistant to heat, oil, and water. Since then, they have quickly become widely used in products in our daily lives. PFAS touch people in countless ways every day through items such as:
- Nonstick Teflon cookware
- Fast food packaging
- Microwave popcorn bags
- Cardboard boxes
- Personal care products such as cosmetics, shampoos, toothpaste, and sunscreen
- Stain-resistant or waterproofed clothing, carpet, and furniture
- Some firefighting foams
What are some ways that we are exposed to PFAS?
PFAS exposure has been found to come from:
- Working in occupations such as firefighting
- Ingesting contaminated drinking water
- Eating certain contaminated foods
- Swallowing contaminated soil or dust
- Breathing contaminated air
- Absorbing contaminants through the skin
Are PFAS found in drinking water?
PFAS have been detected in many public and private water systems throughout the United States indicating widespread chemical contamination. Fortunately, through testing by our local public water systems and private wells in Quay County, the area water supplies have met acceptable standards in our drinking water to date.
In April 2024, the Environmental Protection Agency issued the first-ever national, legally enforceable drinking water standard to protect communities from exposure to harmful PFAS reducing exposure for millions of people, preventing thousands of deaths, and reducing serious illnesses.
What are some ways we can limit our exposure to PFAS?
- Buy stainless steel, ceramic, or glass cookware
- Reduce reliance on certain kinds of food packaging
- Avoid clothing, carpeting, and furniture advertised as waterproof and stainproof but doesn’t claim to be PFAS-free
- Transfer food out of packaging as soon as possible and avoid reheating food in takeout containers
- Stay informed
Resources:
Clean product list – PFAS-Free Brands & Products
Meaningful and Achievable Steps You Can Take to Reduce Your Risk | US EPA
