PFA Doesn’t Mean Professional Fashionista Association

I hope that was good for a laugh. The man I call Constant Reader [Let me know if you’re ready for me to use your name.] has been wondering about PFAs lately. I don’t mean Protection from Abuse, Professional Footballers Association, nor any of the 96 other meanings for the acronym. We need the chemical definition of PFA. Which is, according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency [EPA]:

“PFAS are manufactured chemicals that have been used in industry and consumer products since the 1940s. Because of their widespread use and their persistence in the environment, many PFAS are found in the blood of people and animals all over the world. There are thousands of different PFAS, some of which have been more widely used and studied than others.”

WHAT! The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC] explains:

“The per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of chemicals used to make fluoropolymer coatings and products that resist heat, oil, stains, grease, and water. Fluoropolymer coatings can be in a variety of products. These include clothing, furniture, adhesives, food packaging, heat-resistant non-stick cooking surfaces, and the insulation of electrical wire. Many PFAS, including perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), are a concern because they:

• do not break down in the environment,
• can move through soils and contaminate drinking water sources,
• build up (bioaccumulate) in fish and wildlife.

PFAS are found in rivers and lakes and in many types of animals on land and in the water.”

My family uses neither Teflon products nor Scotchgard products. I’d forgotten why since we haven’t used them in so long. Thanks for reminding me, EPA and CDC.

Now I want to know what other products contain PFAs. Time, which describes itself as “… a global media brand built on 100 years of unparalleled trust and authority, with an audience of more than 100 million people worldwide across our platforms. Created in 1923, TIME began as the first weekly news magazine: a digest of world events, for busy people to read.” exposed us to a sampling of these products:

“Body care products including shampoo, dental floss, toilet paper, tampons, and pads …

Soft contact lenses … 

Beauty products including nail polish and eye makeup …

Cell phones …

Mattress pads …

Wall paint …

Household dust …

Carpeting …

Food …

Yoga pants and sports bras…

Tap water …

Plumber’s tape … 

Guitar strings …

Candy wrappers …

Bicycle chain lubricant …

Microwave popcorn bags …

Dishwasher and laundry detergent “

Okay, it’s everywhere! So why be concerned? I turned to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences to find out:

“Multiple health effects associated with PFAS exposure have been identified and are supported by different scientific studies. Concerns about the public health impact of PFAS have arisen for the following reasons:

• Widespread occurrence. Studies find PFAS in the blood and urine of people, and scientists want to know if they cause health problems.
• Numerous exposures. PFAS are used in hundreds of products globally, with many opportunities for human exposure.
• Growing numbers. PFAS are a group of nearly 15,000 synthetic chemicals, according to a chemicals database (CompTox) maintained by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
• Persistent. PFAS remain in the environment for an unknown amount of time.
• Bioaccumulation. People may encounter different PFAS chemicals in various ways. Over time, people may take in more of the chemicals than they excrete, a process that leads to bioaccumulation in bodies.”

Wow, just wow. Omnipresent. But what, if anything, does this have to do with our kidneys? The PFA Project Lab answers that question:

“As for some of the epidemiologic studies reviewed, several reported a significant association between PFAS exposure with poorer overall kidney health in humans, marked by a significant link between PFAS exposure with a lower estimated glomerular filtration rate and a higher prevalence of chronic kidney disease. This relationship was also seen in children….”

Back to the EPA for a minute to see how people’s health can be affected by PFAs:

“Current peer-reviewed scientific studies have shown that exposure to certain levels of PFAS may lead to:

• Reproductive effects such as decreased fertility or increased high blood pressure in pregnant women.
• Developmental effects or delays in children, including low birth weight, accelerated puberty, bone variations, or behavioral changes.
• Increased risk of some cancers, including prostate, kidney [Gail here, I bolded that.], and testicular cancers.
• Reduced ability of the body’s immune system to fight infections, including reduced vaccine response.
• Interference with the body’s natural hormones.
• Increased cholesterol levels and/or risk of obesity.”

Furthermore, Frontiers, self-described as “… the 3rd most-cited and 6th largest research publisher and open science platform,” explains:

“Based on the biodegradability and bioaccumulation of perfluorooctanoic acid in the human body, there are increasing concerns about the adverse effects of perfluorooctanoic acid exposure on kidneys. Research shows that kidney is the main accumulation organ of Perfluorooctanoic acid, and Perfluorooctanoic acid can cause nephrotoxicity and produce adverse effects on kidney function, but the exact mechanism is still unknown.”

While this is probably alarming to you, I must tell you that every piece of research I looked at mentioned that more studies were necessary. What surprised me was that these ‘forever’ particles live up to their name: they do not dissipate. However, there has been recent legislation – both state and national – on PFAs in drinking water. Ladies and gentlemen, you have to start somewhere.

Until next week,

Keep living your life!