A Simple Breakdown of PFAS the Forever Chemicals

 

With much talk going on about PFAS, there seems to be too much technical information and not enough down-to-earth explanations on exactly what these are. In this article, I will break down what PFAS are, what they are known to do to us, where they come from, where they can be found and how you can keep your family safe from these chemicals.

PFAS or Per-and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances are a group of manufactured chemicals that have been used in industry and consumer products since the 1940s. There are literally thousands of different PFAS and are known to cause reproductive effects such as decreased fertility. They are responsible for increased high blood pressure in pregnant women and have developmental effects or delays in children. PFAS is also attributed to increased risk of some cancers like prostate, kidney, and testicular. Studies have also shown that PFAS reduce the ability of the body’s immune system and create a reduced vaccine response. There can be interference with the body’s natural hormones and increase the risk of obesity while increasing bad cholesterol levels.

So where do these chemicals come from? Well, they come from the manufacturing industry that makes electronics, chrome plating, textiles, and paper to name a few. PFAS can also be found in chemical plants, refineries, airports, shipyards, fire fighting training facilities, and military bases that use an aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF). That is not all, PFAS are used in packaging our food, that’s right, the grease resistant paper that is used to wrap our food from restaurants is made with PFAS. You can also include microwave popcorn bags, candy wrappers, and pizza boxes in that list. If that wasn’t enough, you can also add household products as a source of PFAS contamination. Stain resistant and water repellent substances that are used on carpets, upholstery, clothing, and other fabrics contain PFAS. One of the most popular uses of these toxic chemicals is on non-stick cookware, paints, varnishes, and sealants. PFAS can be released from these sources and attach to the dust in our homes. We also come into direct contact with PFAS from using certain dental floss, shampoo, and cosmetics.

I began to touch on it in the previous paragraph, but we are exposed to PFAS through many sources, some of which is the soil that we think filters our water from the hydrological cycle. This also includes landfills and disposal sites which contaminate our drinking water whether it is from a private well or a municipal source. Fertilizer from wastewater treatment plants that contain PFAS is used on farm lands and can affect the ground water and surface water, and also affect the animals that graze on the land and provide us with meat and dairy products. Fish are not exempt from being contaminated with PFAS either because it can be found in our rivers and lakes and oceans.

So, that letter you received in the mail from your city’s local water treatment facility just explained how they are not meeting the Environmental Protection Agency’s minimum standards for acceptable contamination limits was and is very serious. It is not an issue of if your water is contaminated with PFAS, the question is how much. I do not recommend waiting years for your local government to come up with a plan to make your family’s water safe. We here at Water Pros offer solutions to remove PFAS from either your drinking water or the water for your whole house. Contact one of our water treatment experts today at 303-862-5554 and protect your family now.

Information for this web log was obtained at https://www.epa.gov/pfas

By: Pete Dowding