PFAS and Forever Chemicals: What They Are, Health Effects, and How to Reduce Exposure

Watch: The Forever Chemicals in Your Home and Body Were Invented for WWII

The chemicals in your nonstick pan, waterproof jacket, and couch were invented to help American soldiers win World War II. In this 9-minute overview, Sophia Ruan Gushée explains how they ended up in your home—and inside you—and what you can do about it.

This video is an excerpt from Sophia's 4-day Forever Chemicals Detox crash course, originally recorded in September 2022. Some regulatory details have evolved since recording—for the latest, see the sections below. Use the chapter markers on YouTube to jump to what matters most to you.

What's on This Page

• What Are PFAS and Why Are They Called "Forever Chemicals"?
• Health Risks of PFAS
• Why Low-Dose Exposure Still Matters
• Where PFAS Hide in Everyday Products
• How to Reduce PFAS Exposure at Home
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Forever Chemicals Detox Podcast Series
• Sources & Further Reading

What Are PFAS and Why Are They Called "Forever Chemicals"?

PFAS are synthetic chemicals developed for durability. That same durability is what makes them a concern for human health and the environment. (EPA PFAS Explained, 2025)

Why PFAS Persist in the Body and Environment

• Resist breakdown in air, water, and soil
• Accumulate in food chains and human tissue
• Remain in the body long after exposure ends, with elimination half-lives measured in years for compounds like PFOS and PFOA (ATSDR, 2020)

How People Are Exposed to PFAS

• Food and grease-resistant food packaging
• Drinking water
• Traditional nonstick cookware manufactured with PFAS
• Stain- and water-resistant furniture and textiles
• Certain cleaning and personal care products
• Indoor air and dust (PubMed 2020)

Health Risks of PFAS and Forever Chemicals

Scientific bodies including the Endocrine Society have identified PFAS as endocrine-disrupting chemicals, meaning they can interfere with hormone signaling at very low doses. (Endocrine Society position statement on EDCs, 2025)

PFAS, Hormone Disruption, and Reproductive Health

Peer-reviewed studies have associated PFAS exposure with thyroid dysfunction, reproductive hormone imbalance, fertility challenges, and developmental effects. (PubMed 2025)

PFAS and Cancer, Immune, and Chronic Disease Risks

Scientific research has associated PFAS exposure with certain cancers, immune system suppression, pregnancy complications, and metabolic and cardiovascular effects. In 2023, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified PFOA as a Group 1 carcinogen (carcinogenic to humans) and PFOS as Group 2B (possibly carcinogenic to humans) (IARC Monograph Vol 135, 2023). (ATSDR, 2025)

PFAS, Epigenetics, and Why Your Genes Aren't Your Destiny

While genetics influence health risk, environmental exposures help determine how genes are expressed. Emerging research on PFAS suggests exposure may influence health outcomes across generations through epigenetic mechanisms. (Environmental Research, 2025)

Learn more in our podcast episode: Your Genes Aren't Your Destiny: How Everyday Household Exposures Shape Your Health.

Why Low-Dose PFAS Exposure Still Matters

Why "Safe" Levels Are Difficult to Establish

PFAS can cause biological effects at extremely low doses due to non-monotonic dose-response relationships, hormone-mimicking behavior, and cumulative exposure over time. This concept is well-documented in the peer-reviewed literature on endocrine-disrupting chemicals. (Vandenberg et al. 2012, Endocrine Reviews).

Learn more in our podcast episode: When Less Isn't Safe: How Low Doses of Toxins Affect Your Health.

Why Daily PFAS Exposures Add Up

Daily contact across food, water, products, and indoor environments can create a chronic chemical burden that may affect health over time. (CDC National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals)

Where PFAS Hide in Everyday Products

Household Repeat Offenders™

• Traditional nonstick cookware and bakeware manufactured with PFAS
• Grease-resistant food wrappers and containers
• Furniture, carpets, and rugs treated with PFAS-based stain repellents
• Water- and dirt-repellent clothing and textiles
• Certain cleaning and personal care products

Learn more in our podcast episode: Household Repeat Offenders™: Everyday Products That Hide Forever Chemicals (PFAS).

Community-Wide PFAS Contamination

PFAS contamination has affected drinking water supplies in many communities, sometimes years before it is publicly disclosed. The EPA's 2024 drinking water rule requires public water systems to monitor for six PFAS compounds and notify the public of results. (EPA PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Regulation, April 2024)

Hear one family's story in our podcast episode: When Forever Chemicals Hit Home: How Senator Judy Seeberger Turned PFAS Contamination into Hope.

How to Reduce PFAS Exposure at Home

Simple Ways to Reduce Forever Chemical Exposure

• Filter drinking water with a certified PFAS-reducing filter (look for NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 certification) (US EPA, 2025)
• Avoid traditional nonstick cookware when possible; choose cast iron, stainless steel, carbon steel, glass, or enameled cast iron
• Be cautious with stain- and water-resistant products
• Reduce reliance on grease-resistant food packaging like microwave popcorn bags and some fast-food wrappers
• Dust and vacuum with a HEPA filter to reduce indoor dust exposure

High-Impact Changes to Reduce PFAS

• Food contact materials (cookware, packaging, storage containers) (Silent Spring Institute, 2011)
• Personal care and skin contact products
• Indoor environments and household dust

For the easiest free steps, listen to our podcast episode: The 6 Easiest (and Free!) Ways to Cut Forever Chemicals from Your Life.

Frequently Asked Questions About PFAS and Forever Chemicals

What are PFAS in simple terms?

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a family of more than 15,000 human-made chemicals engineered to resist heat, grease, oil, stains, and water. They are called "forever chemicals" because the strong carbon-fluorine bonds that give them their useful properties also make them extremely resistant to breakdown in the environment and in the human body. (National Institute of Environmental Health Science, 2026)

Are PFAS in my drinking water?

PFAS have been detected in drinking water supplies across the United States, including both public water systems and private wells. In April 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency finalized the first national enforceable drinking water standards for six PFAS compounds, including PFOA and PFOS. You can check your local water utility's Consumer Confidence Report or the EWG Tap Water Database to see if PFAS have been detected in your area. (EPA PFAS National Primary Drinking Water Regulation, 2025)

What are the health effects linked to PFAS exposure?

Peer-reviewed research and federal health agencies have associated PFAS exposure with a range of health concerns, including thyroid dysfunction, elevated cholesterol, reduced vaccine response in children, pregnancy-induced hypertension, decreased fertility, and certain cancers (ATSDR 2025). In 2023, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified PFOA as a Group 1 carcinogen (carcinogenic to humans) and PFOS as Group 2B (possibly carcinogenic to humans) (IARC 2025). For more, you can read NASEM 2022 PFAS Guidance report.

Which cookware is made without PFAS?

Cookware options made without PFAS include cast iron, stainless steel, carbon steel, glass, and enameled cast iron. Some ceramic-coated cookware is marketed as PFAS-free, though consumers should look for third-party verification—such as GreenScreen Certified®, NSF 537 PFAS-Free Certification, and Intertek—since "nontoxic" and "natural" are not regulated terms. Traditional nonstick cookware labeled PTFE, Teflon, or with water-beading coatings typically contains PFAS or is manufactured using PFAS. For a detailed comparison of cookware materials, see our guide to PFAS-free cookware options. (US FDA 2025, PubMed 2021)

Can PFAS be removed from the body?

PFAS accumulate in the body and have long elimination half-lives. PFOS and PFOA, for example, take several years to decrease by half even after exposure stops. Current research suggests that reducing ongoing exposure is the most effective strategy. Some studies have examined blood donation, therapeutic phlebotomy, and cholestyramine as potential interventions, but these should only be considered under medical supervision. The 2022 National Academies report offers clinical guidance for individuals with elevated PFAS blood levels. [CITE: NASEM 2022 PFAS Guidance report] [CITE: Gribble et al. blood donation PFAS study]

How do I test for PFAS exposure?

Blood tests can measure certain PFAS compounds, and the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) published clinical guidance in 2022 recommending testing for individuals with known elevated exposure—for example, firefighters, people living near contaminated sites, or those with certain occupational exposures. Testing is typically ordered through a qualified healthcare provider and is not yet standard preventive care. (ATSDR Clinical Evaluation and Management: PFAS Information for Clinicians2024)

Are PFAS banned?

PFAS regulation varies by country, state, and chemical. In the United States, the EPA's 2024 drinking water rule set enforceable limits for six PFAS compounds, and states including Maine, Minnesota, and California have passed laws restricting PFAS in consumer products such as food packaging, cosmetics, and textiles. The European Union is considering a broad restriction on the entire PFAS class under REACH. As of 2026, there is no single comprehensive federal ban on PFAS as a chemical class in the United States. (EPA PFAS Strategic Roadmap 2025, Safer States PFAS legislation tracker 2026, ECHA REACH PFAS restriction proposal 2023)

What are the easiest ways to reduce PFAS exposure at home?

Practical exposure reduction strategies include filtering drinking water with a certified PFAS-reducing filter (look for NSF/ANSI 53 or 58 certification), replacing traditional nonstick cookware with cast iron or stainless steel, avoiding grease-resistant food packaging such as microwave popcorn bags and some fast-food wrappers, choosing untreated furniture and textiles, and dusting and vacuuming with a HEPA filter to reduce indoor dust exposure. (NSF certification for PFAS filters, Silent Spring Institute research on food packaging, Emerging Contaminants 2024)

Forever Chemicals Detox Podcast Series

Explore the full Forever Chemicals Detox series on the Practical Nontoxic Living™ podcast. The series is organized below as a learning journey—start with the foundational episodes, then deepen your understanding of the science, identify your own exposures, and finish with clear action steps.

Start Here—Foundational Episodes

Your Body Is Brilliant: Why Detoxing Forever Chemicals (PFAS) Matters
An introduction to PFAS, why your body accumulates them, and why exposure reduction matters.

Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals with Breast Cancer Prevention Partners
Nancy Buermeyer of Breast Cancer Prevention Partners explains how endocrine-disrupting chemicals—including PFAS—affect hormone health.

Understand the Science

From Alarming Health Trends to Healthy Futures: How to Reduce Toxic Exposures
Connecting rising health trends to environmental exposures and what you can do about them.

Your Genes Aren't Your Destiny: How Everyday Household Exposures Shape Your Health
How environmental exposures influence gene expression and long-term health outcomes.

When Less Isn't Safe: How Low Doses of Toxins Affect Your Health
Why low-dose exposure to PFAS and other chemicals can still cause meaningful biological effects.

Identify Your Exposures

Household Repeat Offenders™: Everyday Products That Hide Forever Chemicals (PFAS)
A practical audit of the everyday products most likely to contain PFAS in your home.

When Forever Chemicals Hit Home: How Senator Judy Seeberger Turned PFAS Contamination into Hope
Minnesota Senator Judy Seeberger on discovering PFAS contamination in her community and driving legislative change.

Take Action

The 6 Easiest (and Free!) Ways to Cut Forever Chemicals from Your Life
Six no-cost, high-impact changes you can make today to reduce PFAS exposure at home.

Sources & Further Reading

This page draws on current research and guidance from the following authoritative organizations. Specific citations are noted inline throughout the content.

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)—PFAS Strategic Roadmap
• National Institutes of Health (NIH)—Environmental Health Sciences
• Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)—Toxicological Profile for Perfluoroalkyls
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)—National Report on Human Exposure
• World Health Organization (WHO)—PFAS in Drinking Water
• National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM)—2022 PFAS Guidance
• International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)—Monograph Vol 135
• Breast Cancer Prevention Partners (BCPP)
• PubMed—National Library of Medicine