Sources of PFAS in the home
PFAS chemicals are all around us. They are in the products we use daily and in the water we drink. Knowing where PFAS is coming from in the home is an important first step to address exposures and optimize your health.
PFAS pollution is widespread across the US and is found in both tap water and bottled water. This makes water one of the most common sources of exposure.
Almost all non-stick cookware is coated in PFAS, which can cause polymer fume fever when overheated (especially when the surface of the pan is scratched or damaged).
Most stain- or water-resistant carpets, rugs, furniture, and clothing are treated with PFAS. As your kids play, they are directly exposed to this PFAS or to the traces it leaves in household dust.
Check if your furniture has been treated to be stain resistant and replace it if needed.
Replace any damaged nonstick pans. Stainless steel and cast iron are good alternatives.
Use filters for your drinking water. Choose ones that are certified to remove PFAS.
There are over 10,000 different PFAS chemicals used in all sorts of products. Almost any product that is non-stick, stain-resistant, or water-repellant contains PFAS. In the home, major sources of PFAS include furniture, carpets, and other treated materials. Household cleaning products like glass cleaners, fabric cleaners and treatments, floor waxes and polishes, and dishwasher rinse aids are also culprits. Products that have high gloss or longer-lasting features also typically contain PFAS, especially cosmetics, makeup, and personal products, as well as shave gel, dental floss, and bandages.
The most common ways that we are exposed to PFAS is through drinking water that has high levels of PFAS or eating food that has PFAS in it. However, PFAS can also be inhaled when using aerosolized products that contain PFAS or when PFAS-treated materials create dust (think of dust from carpets and furniture). Lastly, PFAS can also absorb through the skin, especially if cosmetics or water-proof clothing that contain high levels of PFAS are used every day.
Municipal water suppliers typically provide an annual water quality report and include information about PFAS levels. For additional information, other resources like Tap Score’s City Water Project and the Environmental Working Group’s PFAS contamination map are good sources. You can also purchase a water test from us.
Aside from PFAS-contaminated water, which is very common, food packaging and wrapping materials are a frequent source of PFAS exposure. Things like chip bags, cookie or cracker bags, and microwave popcorn bags are all lined with PFAS to extend shelf life or prevent sticking. These are especially bad if you heat the food up inside the packaging (like with microwave popcorn). Fast food and to-go wrappers and containers also typically contain PFAS. Highly processed foods may also contain PFAS that is introduced from the machinery used in processing. And last but not least, farmed fish that is grown near contaminated sites also contain PFAS.
Evidence is increasingly linking PFAS exposure to significant adverse health outcomes. These include several forms of cancer as well as reproductive health issues and organ damage among others. As a result, it is important to understand which PFAS substances are present in your body and in what quantities.
Relentless Health's toxin tests are available to be purchased and used by anyone in the United States, except for residents of the state of New York. This is due to New York's state regulations for lab testing. We hope to make our tests available in NY soon.
