Every week we see shocking news headlines about PFAS. Like the fact that residents near a New Mexico air base were exposed to PFAS in their water supplies at 27,000 times the proposed safe limit. Apparently blood tests on local residents revealed levels of some PFAS compounds over 3x the US average. But what does this all mean? Is PFAS really so scary, and is there any reason to get a blood test?
Why are people worried about PFAS?
PFAS (standing for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a large group of manmade chemicals with many useful properties. They are waterproof, grease resistant, stain repellant, heat resistant, and also have excellent nonstick and low-friction properties. So, if they are so useful, what’s the problem?
PFAS in the environment
One of the reasons PFAS compounds are so useful is that they are highly stable chemicals. However, that means they are very resistant to breaking down in the environment. In addition, many short chain PFAS compounds are readily soluble in water. In turn, that means they have become one of the most abundant environmental pollutants we know. Studies have identified PFAS pollution across the globe. PFAS are found in rainfall right across the Great Lakes basin, in pristine wilderness areas, and even in Antarctica.
Adverse health effects
Over the years, hundreds of studies have linked PFAS with serious health effects in both humans and animals. Some PFAS compounds are classed as carcinogenic, and many others may be linked to cancer, only it is quite hard to research them. PFAS is also:
- Linked with dyslipidemia and cardiovascular disease
- Associated with an increased risk of chronic bowel disease
- Linked to reduced birth weight and premature birth
- Immunosuppressive, with evidence that it causes a reduction in vaccine responses
All in all, the evidence is starting to show that PFAS could become a bigger health scandal than smoking or asbestos
PFAS are bioaccumulative
Because PFAS are water soluble, they can readily be ingested by humans and animals. However, once ingested, many of them become bioaccumulative, and can take years to fully be eliminated by the body. This is a real concern, since it implies that PFAS may still be emerging as a health threat.
Sources of PFAS
PFAS compounds have been widely available since soon after the second world war. There are now thousands of compounds in the PFAS family, and they have a whole range of uses.
Firefighting foam (AFFF)
For many years, PFAS were a key ingredient in aqueous film forming foams (AFFF), used to fight aircraft and fuel fires. As a result, air bases and military bases are widely contaminated with PFAS. Within the US, PFAS-based AFFF has been phased out, however, there are still stockpiles out there, and the longevity of PFAS means it will remain in the groundwater for many years to come.
Household uses
PFAS first shot to fame in the forms of Teflon® and Scotchgard®. These both leveraged the nonstick nature of PFAS. Additionally, GoreTex® was made from an expanded form of PFAS, and many waterproof clothes are sprayed with PFAS chemicals. PFAS is also widely used to make fast food packaging, thanks to its waterproof and grease resistant properties (all that “green” paper packaging may not be as environmentally friendly as you think!).
Industrial uses
PFAS is used across a whole range of different industries. Curiously, one of the biggest uses for PFAS is in the manufacture of other PFAS compounds! In addition, PFAS is a key ingredient in many high performance lubricants, electronic components, and high performance batteries (such as the ones in electric vehicles).
Testing for PFAS
By now, you might be wondering what you can or should do about PFAS. There are 3 main options:
Making lifestyle adjustments to avoid PFAS
The first step is to try and work out where you may be exposed to PFAS. This could be in your drinking water (see below), your food, or around the house. You may also be exposed at work depending on your job and location. Simple steps you can take include
- Reducing take out food (or choose a place that lets you use your own containers.
- Avoid eating microwave popcorn.
- If you are buying furniture, avoid stain resistant coatings.
Test your water supply
As we said above, PFAS is readily soluble in water. Estimates vary, but a significant proportion of the population are drinking water that has been contaminated with PFAS. In some cases, the PFAS levels are hundreds or thousands of times higher than the safe limits set by the EPA. Fortunately, testing water supplies for PFAS is relatively easy and well established. However, it’s not cheap (especially if you get the most accurate PFAS water tests).
Take a PFAS test
If you are sure you are currently exposed to PFAS, or were exposed in the past, you can get a PFAS test. There’s a few different options out there.
- Getting a blood draw. Here, you go to a clinic to provide a blood sample. This is shipped to a laboratory for testing. This approach provides extremely accurate results that can be easily compared with published data for PFAS.
- Providing a urine sample. Some labs will test urine for PFAS. The problem here is that not all PFAS show up clearly in urine tests. Moreover, there’s no widely available results to compare your own test against.
- Home blood test using a microsampler. The final approach is to collect a blood sample at home using a special microsampler device. This requires just a few drops of blood and can then be returned in the regular mail. The one caveat here is that the levels reported here will differ slightly from those found in regular blood tests (however, there is a direct correlation between these).
Is a PFAS test worth the money?
PFAS testing is definitely not cheap. So, who is it suitable for?
Who should get tested?
Some groups of people are known to be at increased risk from PFAS. If you fall into one of these groups, you should consider getting tested:
- Pregnant or breastfeeding women
- People with dyslipidemia (high cholesterol)
- Anyone with a history of pancreatic, liver, or kidney cancer
- People who have inflammatory bowel disease
- Anybody who has a history of thyroid disorders
In addition, if you live in an area with known high PFAS levels in the water, it might be worth taking a test.
Who shouldn’t get tested?
If you don’t fall into one of the above categories you might want to think whether a test is worth it. Some people will definitely conclude that it is worthwhile just for peace of mind. But you need to know that, since PFAS is so prevalent, almost everyone has some level in their blood. So taking a test may cause unnecessary worry.
Disclaimer: This article is for educational and informational purposes only. Nothing in this article or on the web site represents medical advice or an offer of medical, diagnostic, or treatment products or services. Anyone concerned about their health should consult a licensed medical professional.
