Table of Contents
What are forever chemicals?
The term “forever chemicals” refers to per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), long-lasting chemicals that don’t break in the environment or in our bodies, PFAS which are impervious to water, grease, and heat are present in a variety of daily products such as food packaging, clothing, cosmetics, and toilet paper all are referred as “forever chemicals”.
Why are PFAS called “forever chemicals”?
A class of man-made chemicals that are hazardous at incredibly low concentrations(parts per quadrillion), PFAS pose serious health concerns to humans, and if you are wondering why they are referred to as “forever chemicals”, it’s because these are indestructible.
Origin of Forever Chemicals
A young chemist named Roy Plunkett who was employed by DuPont at the time made the discovery of the over a thousand per- and polyfluroalkyl chemicals in 1938.
Where are forever chemicals found?
They are found in Pizza boxes, food wrappers, take-out containers, microwave popcorn bags, disposable trays, bakery bags, Teflon pans, firefighting foam Furniture linens, vehicle seats, window coverings, carpets, and rugs, etc
What are the dangers of forever chemicals?
According to studies, exposure to “forever chemicals” can result in a reduced ability to respond to vaccines, cancer( testicular and kidney), thyroid illness, obesity, hypertension during pregnancy, asthma, and liver-related diseases etc (Garrett et al., 2022). It is also an emerging chemical risk in Europe.
Which forever chemicals are found in humans?
Both people and animals can be poisoned by PFAS. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) are two of the most well-known PFAS substances and have been proven to be endocrine disruptors by interfering with the hormonal system (Beans, 2021). They also interfere with the woman’s ability to reproduce and her unborn child’s growth.
How long do forever chemicals stay in the body?
If you breathe air, consume food, or consume water with PFOS, PFOA, or other PFAS, they can enter your body. The amount that will enter the body through your lungs or intestines is unknown. Additionally, it’s probable that only a small amount of PFAS might enter your body via your skin if it comes into touch with it. PFAS frequently linger in the human body for extended periods of time without changing. PFOA and PFOS persist in our bodies for a very long time. For the amount in the body to decrease by 50%, it takes almost four years. PFAS mostly leaves the body through urination.
Can forever chemicals be removed from the body?
In other words, if you entirely eliminate PFAS from your life, which scientists say is nearly difficult in four, seven, or possibly even ten years, your body will have only eliminated half of the chemicals. That does not imply that it is impossible to get PFAS out of our bodies.
How does PFAS persist in the environment?
Despite their wide range of variations, all PFAS share a perfluoroalkyl moiety that is highly resistant to environmental and metabolic breakdown (Elizondo-Craig, 2021). Because of this, the great majority of PFAS are either non-degradable or undergo stable terminal transformations that result in products that are still PFAS.
How do PFAS affect the climate?
The carbon cycle in ocean and gas exchange can both be adversely affected by marine PFAS contaminants. As a result, it causes greenhouse gas emissions to rise, which ultimately has a negative impact on climate change and global warming.
Forever chemicals; the ugly side of cosmetics:
Numerous research carried out all over the world have shown that PFAS has also “silently” wormed its way into the cosmetic sector. The hydrophobic chemical feature of PFAS and its capacity to create films are thought to promote product durability, spreadability, and wear which accounts for its widespread use in cosmetics and skincare products. Additionally, advantages like better skin texture and greater product skin absorption have been reported (Shaikh et al., 2023).
Toxic cancer-causing “forever chemicals” found in contact lenses:
You could think of lenses as practically pure PFAS, according to Scott Belcher, a researcher and scientific expert in contact lens testing at North Carolina State University. Every set of lenses has the potential to contain small amounts of organic fluorine, a component of PFAS. In order to create a softer material that allows oxygen to reach the eye, contact lenses are often created with a combination of silicones, fluoropolymers, and poly(methyl methacrylate), which are essentially found in PFAS.
How to avoid forever chemicals?
Although PFAS are difficult to avoid, experts say there are ways to reduce your exposure to the synthetic chemicals.
- Limit your intake of fast food and greasy wrappers.
- Omit the microwave popcorn.
- Don’t use nonstick cock ware.
- Glass jars are ideal for storing leftovers.
- Water should be filtered or bottled
- Verify where the seafood you consume comes from.
Alternatives for forever chemicals:
In many of these items, it can be challenging to replace PFAS while preserving the product’s distinctive advantages. Some businesses have tried to replace PFAS with substitute chemicals, but they have not been successful in introducing a product that customers would accept as a workable substitute. To meet this demand, a number of shorter-chain PFAS compounds were created and put on the market as more environmentally friendly alternatives to longer-chain PFAS. Without considering the potential drawbacks, businesses choose these shorter-chain alternatives. In the business, this process of switching out one terrible actor for another is known as “substitution whack-a-mole”.
- Conclusion:
The study of “forever chemicals,” or per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), reveals an environment that is characterized by their remarkably long persistence because of their strong carbon-fluorine bonds. This persistence has caused massive environmental damage and serious health consequences. Scientific research is being conducted to lessen the effects of PFAS buildup in both humans and wildlife. By supporting continued research in this area, we can move toward a safer and more sustainable future.
References
Beans, C. (2021). How “forever chemicals” might impair the immune system. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 118(15), e2105018118.
Elizondo-Craig, G. (2021). ” Forever Chemicals” Are in Our Bodies, Drinking Water, and the Environment: Now Is the Time to Hold Polluters Accountable and Ramp up Regulation in the United States. Ariz. L. Rev., 63, 255.
Garrett, K. K., Brown, P., Varshavsky, J., & Cordner, A. (2022). Improving governance of “forever chemicals” in the US and beyond. One Earth, 5(10), 1075-1079.
Shaikh, O. A., Fatima, A., Shekha, M., Kumar, L., Jaykumar, V., Ullah, I., & Asghar, M. S. (2023). Forever chemicals: the ugly side of cosmetics. IJS Global Health, 6(4), e0173.
Author detail:
Aisha Ghaffar1, Kinza1
1Department of Chemistry, University Of Agriculture Faisalabad, Subcampus Toba Tek Singh
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