We have repeatedly warned about the dangers of PFAS

BY SIMONE J. SMITH

Recently, I tasked one of our sharpest journalists (Adrian Reece) with exploring the alarming rise in cancer among young people. What he uncovered was startling—a well-researched article that paints a grim picture of what’s happening, but this is more than just a story about numbers and trends. This article will shine a light on something much more sinister, something lurking beneath the surface that many of us have yet to fully grasp or take seriously. It’s time to confront this reality head-on.

Forever chemicals are everywhere. They are in our food supply and are polluting our soil and drinking water. Even the most remote places in the world, like Antarctica and the Himalayas, are now contaminated with PFAS.

We have repeatedly warned about the dangers of PFAS, as these are endocrine-disrupting chemicals that can affect hormones and metabolism, as well as interfere with: growth, fertility and development, which could put young children at risk. Studies have shown that PFAS may also contribute to cancer, including promoting its spread. This is because PFAS can cause changes in: epigenetics, immunosuppression, oxidative stress, inflammation, or via hormone and metabolomic pathways. There’s also evidence suggesting that exposure to forever chemicals can trigger gastrointestinal inflammation and cause ulcerative colitis — a known precursor to colorectal cancer.

What’s worse is that not only are the potential health effects of PFAS becoming more apparent, but they’re also occurring at lower and lower doses and exposure levels.

“The Poison in Us All,” a documentary by Bloomberg Investigates the origins of per- and polyfluoroalkyl chemicals (PFAS) or “forever chemicals,” and how they are putting our lives and the lives of future generations at risk. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) now recognizes more than 14,000 different chemical structures as PFAS. These synthetic, man-made chemicals have a unique biochemistry, in that they have many carbon-fluorine bonds, which are “Some of the strongest bonds in organic chemistry,” says Laurel Schaider, a senior scientist from the Silent Spring Institute. This is why PFAS don’t break down easily in the environment, and why they can bioaccumulate in people and wildlife. In fact, PFAS have half-lives of two to five years in the human body.

Rates of cancer diagnosis in children are increasing in Minnesota, which is where chemical company 3M’s global headquarters are located. As far back as the 1960s, the company has been dumping PFAS chemicals in the surrounding areas. Minnesota sued 3M for the damage that it has caused to the state’s natural resources, and in 2018, the company was ordered to pay $850 million for contaminating the state’s water supply for decades.

In 2010, the state of Minnesota sued 3M for the damage that it has caused to the state’s natural resources. During the investigation, a mass of the company’s internal documents was released. What they discovered was disturbing, as it was found that, as early as 1975, the company was aware that PFAS were showing up in human blood.

3M also conducted its own internal investigation and found that workers who were exposed to the chemicals also had PFAS building up in their bodies, and animal studies also revealed disturbing effects. What’s more, in 1997, 3M provided DuPont, another chemical company, with a material safety data sheet with a cancer warning label — then removed that label the same year.

How were PFAS discovered? Strangely enough, the origins of these chemicals can be attributed to one of the most controversial moments in U.S. history — the Manhattan Project. This was the top-secret program conducted in the 1940s, when the American government rushed to build an atomic bomb. Bloomberg News reporter Tiffany Kary explains:

“After the war, companies began experimenting with these chemicals. One company had a scientist who accidentally splashed some of it on their canvas shoes. They discovered the chemicals had stain-proof and waterproof properties. That company was 3M.”

The unique chemical properties of PFAS — greaseproof, stain proof and water-resistant — made them useful for the manufacturing of various products and industrial applications. However, as time progressed and more scientific research started to come out, the problems and potential dangers of these chemicals came to light.

The good news is you can make a conscious effort to avoid products with high levels of PFAS, which will minimize your exposure:

• Pretreated or stain-repellent treatments — opt out of these treatments on clothing, furniture and carpeting. Clothing advertised as “breathable” is typically treated with polytetrafluoroethylene, a synthetic fluoropolymer commonly known as Teflon.
• Products treated with flame retardant chemicals — This includes furniture, carpet, mattresses and baby items. Instead, opt for naturally less flammable materials such as leather, wool and cotton.
• Fast food and carry-out foods — The containers are typically treated with PFAS.
• Microwave popcorn — PFAS may be present in the inner coating of the bag and may migrate to the oil from the packaging during heating. Instead, use “old-fashioned” stovetop non-GMO popcorn.
• Nonstick cookware and other treated kitchen utensils — Healthier options include ceramic and enameled cast iron cookware, both of which are durable, easy to clean and completely inert, which means they won’t release any harmful chemicals into your home.

I encourage you to watch this eye-opening film as it will expose just how pervasive these deadly chemicals have become.