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In 1951, Dupont, a chemical manufacturer, started using Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in a new line of non-stick products. These “forever chemicals” started creating a multitude of problems where these chemicals started appearing along rivers and other bodies of water. PFAS was found to cause birth defects, thyroid problems, and change the development and function of our bodies. This chemical is found in 97% of all humans according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in a report done in 2015, with recent estimates being much higher around 99.5%. The abundance of these chemicals spark concern over the contamination of our drinking water sources. Because these chemicals get washed up by rain, they ultimately end up in our groundwater sources. Once in our groundwater, the PFAS contaminated water gets pumped up by wells that are utilized for our drinking water. PFAS is so common in our day-to-day life, its practically in all our day-to-day objects like the couch we sit on, the laptop we work on, and the pots and pans we cook on….you cant get away from it.
The chemistry behind Polyfluoroalkyl substances is that these substances are chains of carbon atoms that have bonded to fluorine atoms which is what allows for their unique properties of heat resistance. This particular bond as well is one of the strongest bonds in nature giving it the name of “Forever Chemicals” as it doesn’t degrade easily. In addition to this, PFAS chemicals have extremely low intermolecular forces (IMF) which make them extremely hydrophobic.
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There are many problems for residential health when it comes to PFAS contamination. Exposure and absorption to high levels of PFAS chemicals can result in many side effects and harmful symptoms that can be damaging to one’s health. Studies show that PFAS may negatively affect vaccine response in children and cause small decreases in infant weight. Recently, research conducted in the Cape Fear region of North Carolina have shown that the PFAS levels in their drinking water caused many disastrous cases for its younger residents. Many of the infants have been born with nervous system damage, cardiac defects, and in some extreme cases, death. Amara Strande, with aspiring dreams to be a musician is a well-known activist on the effects of PFAS. She had received over 20 surgeries trying to remove her cancer from PFAS, but nothing worked and later died at age 20. PFAS also causes increased cholesterol levels, changes in liver enzymes, and increased risk of high blood pressure. Animal studies have shown that PFAS damages the liver and other immune system responses as well as cancer in the kidneys and testicles. According to the National Institute of Health, PFAS chemicals have altered thyroid function and lipid and insulin dysregulation. These effects cause long-term damage to local towns and children. Although it is possible to get PFAS out of our water it is not possible to get PFAS out of our bodies, the reality of the situation shows how PFAS is truly a ‘forever chemical.’
Okay, so what does this mean for us?
Thanks to articles and reports like this one attention has been drawn towards PFAS. The old rules from 2015 are in the process of being changed to more stricter regulations on PFAS. However, this doesn't mean PFAS is gone forever. Dupont and 3M have already ruined the environment with PFAS contamination, the problem is getting it out. PFAS is practically everywhere in your backyard and ground water, so it is up to cities to treat our drinking water and scientists to find ways to get it out of ecosystems.
There are many ways for you to do your part in protecting yourself from PFAS. Throw away old non-stick pans and old products, and check if your product is PFAS free. By a reverse-osmosis filter for your home to protect yourself from PFAS or check with your local city on how their filtration method works. Activated Carbon is a great and cheap way to get rid of PFAS and other contaminants out of a city's drinking water. Convincing your city through emails goes a long way, and if you are unsure about PFAS in your community reach out to water-district officials and board members.
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Works Cited:
Steve Mains. Interview. Conducted by Shanmukh Bachhu, Ian Do, and Patrick Moon. 20 Sep. 2023
Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, May 2). Per- and Polyfluorinated Substances (PFAS) Factsheet. https://www.cdc.gov/biomonitoring/PFAS_FactSheet.html
Tasha Stoiber, Sydney Evans, Alexis M. Temkin, Dave Q. Andrews, Olga V. Naidenko. (2020). PFAS in drinking water: an emergent water quality threat. https://www.ewg.org/sites/default/files/u352/Stoiber_Evans_WaterSolutions_2020.pdf