Increasingly referred to as "Forever Chemicals," PFAS is an acronym for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. Estimates of how many PFAS chemicals range from 8,000-12,000: 9,000. They are so popular that they are also called “everywhere chemicals”and they are expected to take “forever” to break down. Some chemicals are so persistent that they are expected to be on our planet for decades and some for at least a century.

Forever chemicals enter our body through inhalation, absorption, and ingestion. They have been detected in humans including breastmilk.

According to the US EPA, peer-reviewed scientific studies have shown that exposure to certain levels of PFAS may contribute 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, 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.

In December 2022, 3M, one of the largest manufacturers and users of Forever Chemicals announced that it would stop manufacturing and using PFAS chemicals by 2025.

While this is helpful for environmental and public health, it will still be hard for consumers to know in which products Forever Chemicals resides.

No! The more you can reduce your exposure and therefore body burden of PFAS chemicals, the more you lower your health risks. This will liberate your body to detox and repair what you can't avoid. The Forever Chemicals Detox at the D-Tox Academy shares practical tips that you should integrate into your long-term lifestyle.