PFAS, PFOA, PFWHAT?

_{Published 8 November 2019; revised 18 October 2021}

PFAS, PFOS, PFOA, PFNA, and so on, are a family of “forever” chemicals that nearly 90% of people in the USA have in their bodies. These chemicals come from various sources (described below), and are now in our soil, water, and air. Which means they are in our food and drink. We’ve known about them for a long time, but once again our government and politics has prevented steps to remove them from our environment. Come along with me and learn about how we, once again, are poisoning our planet.

The Starbucks PFAS ban—announced March 15, 2022—pledges to rid all U.S. packaging of the chemicals by the end of the year, and internationally by the end of 2023.

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How the Hell Did I Get Here?

What caught my eye was the article discussing the use of sewage sludge as fertilizer. What a great recycling effort I thought. Then I found details about how that sludge is contaminated with something called PFAS or “forever chemicals.” I thought that could not be good, and fell into a series of exposés and articles on these chemicals. The concern is that these chemicals are showing up in our water, food supplies, soils, and in our bodies.

So, I am reading and popping around on the web and eventually landed on news stories and press releases from mainly non-governmental watchdog agencies. A headline caught my eye, The US Dithers while the Rest of the World Bans Toxic Drinking Water Pollutants.

Folks seemed to agree that PFAS are a growing and critical problem, and that it can only be handled through testing, revised standards, and tougher, enforced nationwide regulations. With all this exposure, the EPA was pressured (in Feb 2019) to release some basic information about these chemicals and the damage that they cause.

News Updates

Now (2021), with the push from President Biden, the Democratic Congress is starting to take a serious look at these chemicals and the powerful impact they have on all our lives. This month HuffingtonPost, announced the EPA is starting on a strategy to deal with PFAS chemicals. HuffingtonPost writes: Under the strategy to be announced…, the EPA will move to set aggressive drinking water limits for PFAS under the Safe Drinking Water Act and will require PFAS manufacturers to report on how toxic their products are. The agency also is moving to designate PFAS as hazardous substances under the so-called Superfund law that allows the EPA to force companies responsible for the contamination to pay for the cleanup work or do it themselves.

Later, now July 2021 an article appears detailing how native Indigenous people of the Micmac Nation, accepted the return of 800 acres of PFAS poisoned land, and are trying a new phytoremediation project to clean up contaminated land. That is, they are planting hemp plants in the toxic area, hoping that the plants will suck up the chemicals from the soil. This was started recently and while anecdotally it seems to be working, scientific studies are just starting.

What Is PFAS?

A bit about the chemistry, and no I am not a chemist, just a reader of these types of articles, so let me quote HuffingtonPost: You may not have been aware of the substances perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl prior to this week when leaked Food and Drug Administration documents revealed that both had been detected in foods like meat, dairy, poultry and even store-bought chocolate cake. Known as PFAS, these chemicals are found in items like food packaging, non-stick cookware, and firefighter foam, and when found in concentrations, exposure to the substances is linked to testicular and kidney cancer, thyroid disease and high cholesterol.

The FDA verified that PFAS were in our food chain and that these chemicals migrated and are now in our air, dust, foods, soil, water; and worse, they accumulate in our bodies. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that PFAS chemicals could be detected in the blood of 98% of the US population.

So, I started with the great idea of recycling our waste (yah!!) and ended up knee deep in chemistry (damn!!). We seem to be a species that has no problem with willfully poisoning our own wells. (That is the pessimist side of me speaking.)

Health Concerns?

So, to recap, PFAS is the overall name of 5k+ chemicals with similar type names. PFOS, PFOA, PFHxS, and PFNA (etc.) are the most studied types and appear the most in articles. These chemicals are called “forever chemicals” because they stick around. They are also toxic. ATSDR and ToxicFree reports on PFAS chemical toxicity and their health effects:

WashingtonPost (February 2019) also considered PFAS as a set of dangerous chemicals. The article specifically notes: Long-term exposures have been associated with health problems that include thyroid disease, weakened immunity, infertility risks and certain cancers.

But there is a

• Affects growth, learning, and behavior of infants and older children
• Lowers a woman’s chance of getting pregnant
• Interferes with the body’s natural hormones
• Increases cholesterol levels
• Affects the immune system
• Increases the risk of cancer

This problem is not just affecting humans, but our pets as well; in fact, reachers have shown that the increase in hyperthyroid issues in Northern California cats may be related to these contaminants.

The Growing Toxic Issue

The problem with PFAS is not just that they are toxic in themselves, but that they do not break down in the environment, and take a long time to leave our bodies which is how they received the name “forever chemicals.” What is considered to be “safe” levels are, of course, under dispute. The recent decisions by our current Government is, also of course, not helping solve this growing and concerning issue.

PFAS are not news, the Environmental Protection Agency has known about these “forever chemicals” for over 20 years. But they have only been monitoring drinking water. Right now, according to their records, PFAS contaminated water exists in over 43 states, effecting 6M people.

How we are Exposed?

We are continuously exposed from all areas of living.

• PFAS are in crops, fish, and livestock. Thus in our milk and food products. Additionally, they are in our food packaging.
• They are used in household products such as stain proofing for furniture and carpets, or waterproofing for clothing or shoes. These items then release these chemicals into the air and dust.
• PFAS are in our water.
• In most areas, use of firefighting foam and manufacturing introduce PFAS into our environment.
• These chemicals are also in our cleaners, personal care products, and specialty products (ski wax).

Contaminated Water

In Feb 2019 Environmental Pollution Centers wrote: A Harvard study led by Elsie Sunderland determined that California water is contaminated with polyfluoroalkyl and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), the quality of the water in this state being singled as the worse of all the 33 states in which PFAS were identified in water supplies. Since PFAS can be absorbed through the skin, people will be at risk even if they do not use the public water supplies for drinking, but instead for cooking and bathing. In the light of their discoveries in regard to the levels of water contamination, the Harvard researchers concluded that it would be sensible to rethink the standards of clean drinking water since the current ones are potentially dangerous, to children most of all.

WhoWhatWhy organization reported (8/2019) about PFAS chemicals in groundwater, rivers and lakes, and domestic water. Public water systems have been contaminated in 49 states (so far) according to the Environmental Working Group.

• For nearly a year, a dairy farmer in New Mexico has had to dump 12,000 gallons of milk a day because his well water was contaminated by an underground plume of PFAS from nearby Cannon Air Force Base (military bases are major polluters.) It came from the firefighting foam used in training exercises.
• In Michigan, fish from the Huron River are unsafe to eat because of PFAS dumped into a wastewater treatment plant from a company that makes chrome-plated plastics for the auto industry.

Contaminated Waste

Intercept reports that: ALL SEWAGE SLUDGE recently tested by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection was contaminated with PFAS chemicals, according to documents obtained by The Intercept. The state tested the sludge, solid waste that remains after the treatment of domestic and industrial water, for the presence of three “forever chemicals”: PFOA, PFOS, and PFBS. Of 44 samples taken from Maine farms and other facilities that distribute compost made from the sludge, all contained at least one of the PFAS chemicals. In all but two of the samples, the chemicals exceeded safety thresholds for sludge that Maine set early last year.

Contaminated Food Products

3M voluntarily phased out PFOS from US production starting in 2000. In 2006, PFOA started to be phased out as well. As far as I am aware, PFOA and PFOS are no longer manufactured (or imported) into the US. However those decisions did not remove the problem. They are still in our environment. (“Forever chemicals” remember?)

• The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) announced on 6/2019 that PFAS chemicals have been found in food in Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, and the District of Columbia, Main, New Mexico, and North Carolina.
• BuzzFeed: (7/2019) Forever chemicals” linked to cancer are turning up in farm produce across the country, leading farms to lay off workers, incinerate cranberry harvests, kill cows, and dump thousands of gallons of dairy milk.

Contaminated Imports + Cosmetics

PFAS chemicals are still produced in some countries. Evidently, the US does not check for PFAS chemicals arriving via imports: carpets, leather and apparel, textiles, paper and packaging, coatings, rubber and plastics.

Cosmetics is an industry rife with a terrible history including: animal abuse, labor abuse, and questionable ingredients, including PFAS chemicals. In June 2021, WashingtonPost reported: Over the last three years, researchers tested 231 cosmetics products in North America for fluorine, an indicator of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS. The study found fluorine in 56 percent of foundations and eye products, 48 percent of lip products and 47 percent of mascaras.

Contaminated Fire Fighting Foam

In one area, EDF indicates that contamination of the environment may be due to, not sludge, but aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) used to fight fire and conduct firefighting training. That should have us concerned as fire fighting is something we know all too much about here in Northern California.

Contaminated Military, Hospitals, + Other Areas

VectorCenter: In addition to industrial production facilities, contaminated sites in the U.S. include military bases, fire stations, landfills, hospitals, and schools. All of these large institutions use foams or waxes or cleaners that contain the chemicals.

VectorCenter: In communities across the United States, PFAS contamination from Department of Defense sites has been found at at least 126 bases or former bases and installations; the DoD says there are potentially 401 total sites where PFAS contamination may be present.

The NYTime (3/2019) headline: Pentagon Pushes for Weaker Standards on Chemicals Contaminating Drinking Water. The implication to the article is that the Military (and by the way NASA too) does not want to pay billions of dollars to pay for water cleanup at their facilities around the nation.

Worldwide Efforts

CNN reports (9/2019) that Denmark has just become the first nation to ban PFAS from any packaging materials that directly touches food. So this ban also means baking paper and microwave popcorn bags will be required to be manufactured without any PFAS. The catch is that the food must be wrapped in non-PFAS materials, but then the outer wrapping could still contain PFAS. Bottomline is that this is a step in the right direction.

Nationwide USA Efforts

We need to look at this as a county, state, and nationwide food chain issue that needs to be controlled by regulations. Given Trump’s regulation history I doubt this will be solved or even paid attention to during his administration. In fact, the NYT writes: Frustration is only increasing across the United States as the Trump administration moves slowly to confront the challenge.

The Center for Environmental Health reports that it will take a long time to set nation-wide standards or lower the allowable amounts. So local and regional people are going to have to take the lead.

Just what is happening on a national level?

• Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand and Charles Schumer of New York have introduced a bill to require the EPA to set drinking water standards for PFOS and PFOA.
• Reps. Frank Pallone and Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey have each introduced legislation to require the EPA to create an enforceable standard for perfluorinated chemicals in drinking water within two years.
• NYT: Several state and local governments — including the Security Water District in Colorado, the city of Newburgh, N.Y., and the state of New Mexico — have already filed lawsuits against the Defense Department.
• 7/29/19: HuffPost reports that Washington state governor Jay Inslee is calling for a complete ban on these chemicals

Northern California

In June 2018, the CA Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) issued a memorandum detailing the environmental persistency of these chemicals. It described how the chemicals are readily absorbed (but not readily eliminated) from our bodies, and their harmful effects, including developmental toxicity, cancer and liver toxicity.

Reportedly, in April 2019, Legislation (AB756) was introduced to test and publicly report on PFAS in our water; currently this appears to be voluntary. Some legislators, from districts that have been subjected to repeated forest fires, are expressing concern given PFAS have been identified in fire fighting foam. So this legislation will also require testing and publicly reporting on this as well.

Here are summaries of where things stand.

• PFOS and PFOA are part of California’s Prop 65 list of cancer causing chemicals.
• California has adopted drinking-water notification levels of 14 ppt for PFOA and 13 ppt for PFOS.
• There are currently no enforceable drinking water or hazardous cleanup standards for PFAS in California.
• A Phased Investigation Plan was announced that will require testing drinking water systems, and site investigations at high-risk locations in California.
• PFAS Contamination in Northern California are identified on primarily military sites: Alameda and Treasure Islands, Travis Field, Dixon, and a couple of sites around Sacramento. Known contamination in water: 2 areas around Sacramento, Lathrop, Pleasanton, and Chico.

What Can We Do?

Politics

1. Push the politicians and government agencies. We need to support legislative efforts to remove PFAS chemicals out of our environment, water, food, clothes, cosmetics, furniture and everywhere else they are.
2. Support orgs that are fighting. Identify and support orgs that are working on your issue be it water, fire fighting pollution, food packaging or other means of introducing these chemicals into our environment: FoodAndWaterWatch, The Environmental Council of the States (ECOS),  Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Sierra Club, National Wildlife Federation (NWF), among others.
3. Support clean water efforts. Go to State Water Board hearings and raise your concern. Here is a story and assessment of one person who did this: Andrea Ventura.

Education (for yourself and others)

1. Learn about your environment. For instance, here is a link to a site that reports on these toxins in Alameda. Test your water, find out if there are HPFA’s lurking where you live.
2. Here is a link to newly tested California wells: Eurofins.
3. Stay away from recent fire fighting areas. The foam used in fire fighting contains PFAS, so do not breathe these chemicals. So keep current on areas to avoid.

Household

NEWS: Oct 2019 A study was done that showed people who eat mainly at home have lower PFAS chemicals in their bodies. But additionally, you should consider these steps as well,

1. Read labels of cosmetics, skin care, personal hygiene + cleaning products. Throw away any items containing “PTFE” or “perfluoro” in its ingredients. When shopping, choose PFAS-free products, for example fluorine-free waterproof goods and cosmetics.
2. Avoid stain resistant or repellent furniture. This is in carpets, curtains, and furniture, especially of concern if you have little crawly kids and critters. Other products that may be treated include shoes, luggage, and camping and sporting equipment.
3. Check your wardrobe. Read the labels of your clothing and accessories for these chemicals.
4. Avoid non-stick cookware and utensils . Try using stainless steel, cast iron, or chemical free ceramic cookware. Wooden, rubber tipped, or steel utensils.
5. Regular air filter change. Have a house air filter(s) and change filters regularly. If it is time to review and update your heating/cooling system research ones that provide good air filtration.
6. Avoid fast food. More likely than not, the fast food packaging has PFAS chemicals; including, fast-food wrappers, containers, microwave popcorn bags, french fry boxes and pizza boxes.
7. Install house water filtration. Consider getting good water filtration systems for our houses and apartments. Look for systems that have been tested and NSF certified for NSF-P473, which guarantees the reduction of both PFOA and PFOS chemicals.

If we cannot trust larger governmental systems to consider our health, then, when we are able, we should take care of ourselves and our community.

— Patty

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