For many years, we in the integrative medical community have known that toxic chemicals are something to avoid at all costs, the thinking being that the lighter our ‘toxic load’ and the fewer industrial chemicals we ingest, the better and more sustainable our health will be. That’s still the idea. But over the last few years, the unsettling news about the pervasiveness of ‘forever chemicals’ or PFUAS (aka ‘per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) has brought a new awareness about just how difficult they are to avoid. In short, they are everywhere and stemming the tide will take some doing – both on a personal and global level.

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Why are the dangers associated with PFUAS only now coming to light? Because, like a lot of man-made horrors, it’s a story that’s been strenuously kept under wraps for decades. Big Chemical saw to that. But what really stinks is that there’s plenty of evidence showing that chemical manufacturers were well aware of the dangers of certain PFAS as far back as the 1960s and 70’s, and now we’re left to deal with the fall-out -- a stunning array of health and environmental problems.

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While it’s true that government at every level has been far too slow to address the chemical assault, in recent years, the states have begun to take action, with nearly half of them having enacted laws to ban or restrict the use of PFAS. The federal response has been weaker, but this April, the Biden administration created the first-ever national drinking water standard to protect some 100 million people from PFAS pollution, and the EPA has made available an extra billion dollars for water testing and treatment. (You gotta start somewhere!)

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Certainly, these are steps in the right direction but, with roughly 15,000 synthetic chemicals under the PFAS umbrella, embedded in thousands of products we use every day, PFAS are so ingrained in so many facets of modern life that purging our bodies of them is an uphill battle. It is, however, essential that we try, to live the longest, healthiest life we can. What follows is a topline of what you need to know about this rotten, insidious stuff, plus a few strategies to help you reduce your exposure – ideally, starting today:

So, what are PFAS anyway?

PFAS are synthetic chemicals known for their strong carbon-fluorine bonds, which prevent them from degrading naturally. And because they don’t break down, PFAS accumulate over time, hanging around in the body and environment indefinitely, thus the commonly used nickname "forever chemicals."  

Why are they everywhere?

They are everywhere largely due to their ability to solve a lot of everyday problems, having been used in various industrial applications and consumer products since the 1940s and ‘50s. Since then, PFAS have only proliferated. When you look under the hood, you’ll find that PFUAS have made their way into about 99% of human bloodstreams (including fetuses and newborns) as well as into our air, our soil and just about every body of water, worldwide.

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What makes them so ‘helpful’ is their incredible resistance to water, grease, stains, heat, and dirt, which explains why PFAS have been baked into countless items we use every day, such as non-stick cookware, stain and water-repelling clothing, stain-resistant fabrics and carpeting, food packaging, cleaning products, as well as personal care items and cosmetics.

How do PFAS impact our bodies and world?

With PFAS, the closer you look, the more startling the dangers. Here some of the accelerated aging and potentially life-shortening risks associated with PFAS:

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1. Your body:
   • Accelerated aging: High levels of PFAS are linked with numerous aging accelerators, including obesity, diabetes and metabolic problems, inflammation, immune system suppression, increased blood pressure, premature skin aging
   • Cancer: Studies have linked PFAS exposure to an increased risk of several types of cancer, including kidney and testicular cancer.  
   • Hormonal Disruption: PFAS can interfere with the endocrine system, leading to thyroid hormone disruption.
   • Immune System Effects: PFAS exposure may weaken the immune system, reducing the body's ability to fight infections and respond to vaccines.
   • Developmental Issues: Prenatal and early childhood exposure can lead to developmental delays and cognitive issues.
   • Liver Damage: High levels of PFAS have been associated with liver damage and elevated cholesterol levels.

2. Your world:
   • Persistent Pollution: Because PFAS do not degrade easily, their presence leads to long-term contamination of water sources, soil, and air.
   • Bioaccumulation: These chemicals not only wind up in our bodies and those of our pets, but also accumulate in the tissues of wildlife leading to higher concentrations up the food chain, which can affect entire ecosystems.

So, Doc, do I have crazy high levels of PFAS in my system?

There are so many factors at play when it comes to individual exposure, so it’s difficult to say where your levels are without first taking a specialized blood test. But, for example, if you’re living close to farming operations, industrial sites, military facilities, airports, sewage plants or known areas of contamination, there’s a good chance your PFAS levels may be higher than average, potentially putting you in harm’s way. Fire fighters may also be at higher risk due to the nature of the materials they work with on the job. One way to find out where you stand is to discuss with your doctor getting a PFAS test, a blood test that measures a number of the most common (and well-researched) PFAS. When you know your levels, you and your doctor can determine if and what next steps should be taken to reduce exposure, and ultimately disease risk.

How to clean up your act, help slow aging – and give longevity a much-needed boost.

Considering that so many of us have had years for this nasty stuff to accumulate in our bodies – remember, mom had no idea your morning eggs cooked in non-stick cookware had such killer potential – your goal now should be to start working on keeping new sources PFAS from sneaking into your system, and wherever possible, working on filtering out what may already be there. Do both and you’ll do your body a world of good, helping to curb disease risk and slow the ageing process. Here are a few practical ways to reduce PFAS exposure:

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1. Read the label:
   • If it says stain-resistant, water-repellent, or non-stick, it’s likely to be loaded with PFAS, so give them a hard pass. You want items that specifically state they are PFAS-free.
2. Clean up your drinking water:
   • Consistent filtration of any water you ingest is the way to go. Even if your local municipal water system gets high marks, or you get yours from a private well, it doesn’t mean your water source is PFAS-free by any stretch. A water filtration system designed to remove PFAS is going to make a big difference, whether it’s drinking water, ice cubes, coffee, tea or cooking water. 
   • Invest in the highest quality filtering system you can afford -- ideally, one with active carbon filters or, better yet, a reverse osmosis system for maximum effectiveness. Remember that most inexpensive carafe filter systems remove some impurities and can improve taste, but unless they specifically say so, most do not remove PFAS, so buyer beware.
   • When it comes to local water, Consumer Reports recommends looking it up – as in, taking advantage of the new EPA rule which enables you to find out if your drinking water contains PFAS and how high or low local levels might be. The New York Times also suggests getting a Consumer Confidence Report, or ‘CCR’ to get the low down on your local water source. If neither are available yet in your area, pick up a self-test kit and DIY it.
3. Clean up your cookware:
   • Opt for stainless steel, cast iron, or ceramic cookware instead of non-stick pans coated with PFAS. And if you’ve got old non-stick cookware lying around, let it go, but first, check in with local recycling facilities to find out how to dispose of it safely and responsibly.
4. Steer clear of food packaging:
   • Fast-food packaging, microwave popcorn bags, and other food containers are often treated with PFAS, so use as little of the aforementioned as possible.
   • Store food in non-leeching glass or stainless-steel containers instead of coated paper or plastic.
5. Look very closely at your multitude of ‘everyday use’ products:
   • Review ingredients in cosmetics, personal care and cleaning products, taking special care to avoid items with ingredients that include the words "fluoro" or "perfluoro.” Do the same for home fabrics, bedding and mattresses – look for the cleanest, PFAS-free versions you can find.
   • When buying new items let the Environmental Working Group be your guide. The EWG produces numerous,  scrupulously researched lists of companies producing PFAS-free products.
6. Give your food a close look too:
   • Know your food sources well enough to determine if your food is grown or raised near areas where PFAS are manufactured or used industrially. You need your food to come from clean, healthy surroundings.
   • Consider skipping locally caught freshwater fish, which, according to a study published in 2023, is a significant source of PFAS exposure in the U.S.
   • Instead, opt for pole-caught, wild fish, preferably from a socially responsible company like sea2table.com, to ensure that you get the healthiest fish possible. Seafoodwatch.org offers recommendations on the best fish options, as well as the must-avoids for more than 50 fish species you will likely see at your local market, so you can use it to guide your purchases.

BOTTOM LINE: PFAS are, for now, here to stay – but it’s up to you to do all you can to keep your distance from them and concentrate on the simple and proactive measures you can take to keep levels low – and enable your body to thrive.