TWV Podcast Episode 464: Forever Chemicals: What are PFAS?

This week on The Whole View, Stacy and I rev up the outrage machine to do a deep dive into PFAS, aka “forever chemicals.”  We cover what they are (a group of 9,000 man-made chemicals of which the best known are PFOA, PFOS, and PTFE), why our bodies can’t detox them, the many ways we get exposed, the well-established health detriments and mechanisms thereof, their environmental impacts, their super dodgy history, and where we are currently in terms of regulation. We also share some action-items like how to reduce your personal exposure and advocate for their use to be banned.

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Recommended Reading and Listening

• BPA: Should We Be Worried?
• 7 Chemicals Banned in Europe That Are Allowed in the USA
• Dark Waters Movie | Official Website | Trailers and Release Dates | Focus Features
• Toxic-Free Future | Science, Advocacy, Results
• EWG
• Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families 
• Earthjustice: Environmental Law: Because the Earth Needs a Good Lawyer | Earthjustice
• Beautycounter advocacy

Citations

PFAS chemical exposure | ATSDR

Scientific Basis for Managing PFAS as a Chemical Class | Environmental Science & Technology Letters 

A Review of the Pathways of Human Exposure to Poly- and Perfluoroalkyl Substances (PFASs) and Present Understanding of Health Effects – PMC 

Activation of human nuclear receptors by perfluoroalkylated substances (PFAS) 

Binding of perfluorinated fatty acids to serum proteins 

A critical review of perfluorooctanoate and perfluorooctanesulfonate exposure and immunological health conditions in humans – PMC 

Dermal penetration potential of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in human and mouse skin

Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances and Obesity, Type 2 Diabetes and Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Review of Epidemiologic Findings – PMC

Serum polyfluoroalkyl chemicals are associated with risk of cardiovascular diseases in national US population 

PFAS exposure and overweight/obesity among children in a nationally representative sample 

Frontiers | Diet as an Exposure Source and Mediator of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substance (PFAS) Toxicity 

Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Breast Milk: Concerning Trends for Current-Use PFAS | Environmental Science & Technology

Per and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in Cosmetics | FDA

Forever Chemicals Are Widespread in US Drinking Water – Scientific AmericanPFAS in the US population | ATSDR