#72 What are PFAS, or "Forever Chemicals"?

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Your faithful writer,
Dr. Daniel Smith

Over the last few months, there’s been a ton of media coverage around PFAS, which are better known as “forever chemicals.”

The Biden Administration ordered chemical manufacturers that produced PFAS chemicals for decades to pay for the cleanup of water systems that have been contaminated by the chemicals.

Hundreds of millions of Americans drink tap water containing unhealthy levels of PFAS chemicals, so the cleanup will be costly.

Unsurprisingly, chemical manufacturers have sued the government in response to these orders.

What are PFAS chemicals? The term 'PFAS' refers to over 12,000 man-made chemical compounds that are used in consumer products and industrial processes.

Many products that are advertised as greaseproof, waterproof, or non-stick contain PFAS chemicals.

The problem with PFAS chemicals: 

• They're harmful to the environment and humans

• They take hundreds of years to degrade due to the powerful carbon-fluorine bonds that keep them intact

• They find their way into the human body through our food, our water, and the products we use every day

How does PFAS exposure harm humans? Research has shown that exposure to high levels of PFAS chemicals can increase the risk of certain kinds of cancers.

It can also decrease the birth weight of babies born to women with PFAS exposure.

What can you do to limit PFAS exposure? Avoiding products that contain PFAS chemicals is a good start. Stop using nonstick pans and start using stainless steel or cast iron.

It takes longer to clean, but your body will thank you in the long run.

ART OF THE DAY

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Yours,
Dan