What Are PFAS? The story begins in the 1930s with the invention of polytetrafluoroethylene, better known as Teflon, by a chemist at DuPont. Trademarked in the 1940s and made famous by the miraculous “nonstick” cookware, Teflon became popular in household kitchens by the 1960s. Since then, an entire family (more than 12,000) of nonstick, stain-repellent, and waterproof chemicals, collec- tively called PFAS, have been created. The nearly indestruc- tible and slippery quality of PFAS have made them popular in manufacturing a variety of products and packaging that we encounter every day. Where Do You Find PFAS? non-stick, stain-resistant, or waterproof, for now, there’s a good chance it contains PFAS. Whether it's from facilities producing PFAS or landfills with PFAS waste, these chemi- cals leach into our air, soil, and water, and go on to contami- nate our crops and livestock. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is projected to find PFAS in water systems of at least 60% of the U.S. population by the time they complete their testing in 2026. In short, everywhere. If a product is labeled Scientists have even found them in places thought to be undamaged by humans, like the Arctic and the deep ocean. In the U.S., researchers estimate they’re in 97% of people’s blood.
About two years ago, Katy's borough notified her that her household water contains PFAS. Their letter provided hollow reassurance, telling residents not to worry unless they were pregnant or breastfeeding. Katy was nursing her youngest child at the time.
Katy thinks about PFAS daily. She bathes her children knowing that her water contains PFAS. She reminds them often not to drink the bath water — they can only drink the filtered water from the kitchen. Buying bottled water is not an option. Bottled water contains PFAS.
When Food & Water Volunteer Network Director Katy learned she had PFAS in her water, she installed a whole-house carbon filter for general water safety and a reverse osmosis filter in her kitchen to clean her drinking water of even more impurities, including PFAS. Like many families, she found it too expensive to install a reverse osmosis filter to treat the water for her whole house.
Why are PFAS called “forever chemicals?”
PFAS are very difficult to get rid of and don’t break down natu- rally in the environment or in our bodies. Some PFAS could take over 1,000 years to degrade.
PFAS - continue on Page 3 >
FOOD & WATER WATCH / ACTION — LIVABLE FUTURE NOW | 2
Made with FlippingBook. PDF to flipbook with ease