You may be wondering what toxic forever chemicals are, and why exactly are they “forever?” A toxic forever chemical is known as PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), which has been used in commercial products since the 1940s. Because PFAS has long half-lives, it has been denoted as a forever chemical. They are also known as forever chemicals because they amass inside the human body and are eliminated slowly over time.
According to USA Today, toxic forever chemicals are regularly found in drinking water across the United States. The USA Today report also notes that major U.S. markets – such as Miami, Philadelphia, and Washington D.C. – have “contained PFAS levels of at least 10 parts per trillion.” The Environmental Working Group estimates that the water supplies for roughly 110 million Americans have been contaminated with PFAS over the years.
There are a variety of chemicals within the PFAS family. The most regularly studied chemicals in this family are PFOA and PFOS. These are all man-made chemicals, and they can be released via the air, water, and soil. Both PFOA and PFOS have been phased out over the years by most industries, the EPA warns that these health hazards continue because these toxic forever chemicals can spread through the environment.
Toxic Forever Chemicals in Consumer Products & Other Exposers
Even today, there are still traces of PFAS in consumer products like food packaging and cookware, such as fiber bowls. There are a variety of ways in which someone can be exposed to toxic forever chemicals with varying levels of exposure.
According to the EPA, toxic forever chemicals can be exposed through:
- Food
- Drinking water
- Consumer products
- PFAS production plants
When considering food, these toxic forever chemicals can be contaminated in the soil or the water that is used to grow your food, as well as in food processing equipment that uses PFAS.
Commercial products, such as stain- and water-repellent items, also have risk of PFAS exposure. Some of these products may include non-stick cookware, glue, packaging material, textiles, and more.
The Toxic Threat of Forever Chemicals
When ingesting toxic forever chemicals, the threat of PFAS is even greater for humans. The EPA reports that PFAS can “accumulate” inside a body and may be stored inside you for long periods of time.
To make matters worse, you may be exposed to toxic forever chemicals in a variety of ways over time, which may create higher levels of PFAS inside your body and more health problems.
The EPA states that humans may be faced with the following effects from exposure to toxic forever chemicals:
- Cancer (bladder, blood, kidney, liver, pancreatic, prostate, testicular, thyroid)
- Low birth weights
- Preeclampsia
- Thyroid (hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, thyroiditis, Hashimoto’s, Grave’s, Goiter, thyroid nodules)
- Ulcerative colitis
Contact Pintas & Mullins Law Firm for a Free Case Evaluation
If you or a loved one has been exposed to the toxic forever chemical known as PFAS, contact Pintas & Mullins Law Firm today. While the chemical is common in tap water, you may also face medical risks from everyday products while at work that used to contain these toxic forever chemicals.
PFOA is a notorious compound of PFAS, and was formally linked to products manufactured by both DuPont for Teflon and by 3M’s Scotchgard, according to the Environmental Working Group.
Get help from an injury lawyer by calling Pintas & Mullins Law Firm today at (800) 788-4155 or using the online contact form to begin a free forever chemicals case evaluation.