By Justina Wasicek, Governor Pinchot Group
It should not be scary to use tap water to make your morning coffee – or to microwave a bag of popcorn- or to put on some makeup. Yet, we are exposed to PFAS chemicals in many of our everyday activities.
PFAS are unhealthy chemicals that have been found in our drinking water, pizza boxes, cosmetics, and firefighting foams. Governor Wolf has just released final PFAS sampling results for public drinking water supplies here in PA, and two U.S. Senators are introducing a bill to get PFAS out of cosmetics. PFAS are the subject of movies and YouTube discussions. To find out more about your possible exposure and what is being done to address this contamination, read on.
What are PFAS chemicals?
You may have heard about the contamination of our drinking water supplies and household products from the use of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). These substances include PFOA, PFOS, and GenX chemicals. These chemicals are harmful to our health. They do not break down and can accumulate in our environment over time; this is why they are called “forever chemicals”.
What are the health effects?
The EPA says that animal studies indicate that PFOA and PFOS can cause reproductive, developmental, liver and kidney and immunological effects in laboratory animals, as well as tumors in animals.
There are limited epidemiological findings that PFOA and PFOS are associated with high cholesterol, decreased vaccination response, thyroid disorders, and cancer (PFOA).
How do we get exposed to PFAS?
We are exposed through our water supplies and a wide range of products that people use every day. PFOS and PFOA have been used in stain and water repellents, cosmetics, pizza boxes, candy wrappers, microwave popcorn bags, cleaning products, and firefighting foams. Food can be contaminated by packaging, or the food itself may have bio-accumulated these chemicals.
Where do PFAS come from?
PFAS have been in use since the 1950s. They were used in the manufacture of non-stick cookware. An excellent movie that talks about this dangerous exposure is the recent Mark Ruffalo film Dark Waters. Although manufacturing of certain PFAS chemicals (PFOA and PFOS) has been phased out in the U.S., they are still persistent in our environment and are found in products that we import from other countries.
PFAS have been used in firefighting foams and may show up as localized contamination of water near military installations, airports, and fire training sites that utilized PFAS foam for firefighting.
Other PFAS including GenX chemicals and PFBS (a replacement chemical for PFOS) are still in use. Animal studies on PFBS have shown health effects on the thyroid, reproductive organs and tissues, developing fetuses, and kidneys following oral exposure. The RfD (Reference dose) for PFBS suggests it is less toxic than PFOA and PFOS. https://www.epa.gov/pfas/learn-about-human-health-toxicity-assessment-pfbs
Why are PFAS undisclosed ingredients in makeup, particularly mascara, liquid foundation, and lipsticks?
Researchers tested 231 cosmetic products in North America and found PFAS indicators in 56 % of foundations and eye products, 48% of lip products, and 47 % of mascaras. These chemicals are used to make cosmetics shiny, waterproof, and spreadable. The principal investigator said, “We were shocked to see how much is in some of these products.”
According to the Washington Post, last year California became the first state in the US to prohibit toxic chemicals, including some PFAS, in cosmetics, and Maryland followed suit in June 2021,but the laws do not take effect until 2025.
What is being done? On June 15, Sen. Susan Collins (R- Maine) and Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D- Conn) introduced a bill called “The No PFAS in Cosmetics Act” in the U.S. Senate.
Are there PFAS in your local water supply?
Recently Gov. Wolf released the results of a PA government study that looked at PFAS contamination in Pennsylvania’s public drinking water supplies. Drinking water companies can treat for PFAS. Several water supply results show PFAS and PFOS contamination in our drinking water. DEP tested about 400 public water system sites. PFOS were detected at 103 sites; PFOAs were detected at 112 sites. Gov. Wolf’s Action Team is implementing a cleanup plan to address PFAS contamination in PA. See DEP Press release June 3, 2021: “Wolf Administration Announces Final PFAS Statewide Sampling Results”.
You can look at the individual results for your water supply here.
On Sept. 2, 2021, PENNVEST awarded funding to remove PFAS through pretreatment filtration to a water company in Montgomery County. Communities can apply for funding to assist them in reducing PFAS through Pennvest.pa.gov. You can also learn about PFAS near military installations on YouTube. “Toxic Forever Chemicals in Defense Communities” is a panel discussion by Pennsylvanians about PFAS. Being more informed can help us protect ourselves and our communities.
This blog was included as part of the Fall 2021 Sylvanian newsletter. Please click here to check out more articles from this edition!