Understanding PFAS: Environmental Persistence and Human Health Concerns
What is PFAS and where is it used? PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a large group of over 4,700 synthetic organic substances that are widely used in consumer and professional products. This category includes chemicals such as perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), some of which have been in commercial use since the 1940s.
PFAS are highly stable compounds that don’t interact much with other chemicals, making them useful for creating products that resist oils, stains, water, and heat. Due to these properties, PFAS are commonly found in waterproof rain gear, food packaging, firefighting foams, non-stick cookware, and protective coatings for carpets and fabrics. However, many of these uses are not essential and have safer alternatives. All PFAS contain strong chemical bonds which give them high stability and the nickname “Forever Chemicals”.
PFAS are persistent in the environment and accumulate over time. They have been detected in air, soil, water (including drinking water sources), and household dust. Studies show that PFAS are released at every stage of their life cycle – during production, use, and disposal. Once released, they can travel long distances and have been found far from their origin. They are a significant health concern because they do not break down easily, remaining in the environment and human body for extended periods.
Additionally, humans are continuously exposed to PFAS mainly through ingestion of contaminated food or water, as well as dust, indoor environments, personal care and consumer products. Human biomonitoring studies have detected PFAS in breast milk, urine, and blood because PFAS binds to proteins rather than fats, persisting in the body and accumulating in the blood, liver, and kidneys.
PFAS have been shown to be associated with a range of negative health impacts, including negative impacts on fertility, fetal development and thyroid hormone function. The accurate functioning of thyroid hormones is important in several stages of life; it is, for example, a vital factor for the development of the fetal and neonatal brain during pregnancy and a critical factor for menopausal symptoms during post-menopausal age.
In Malaysia, PFAS contamination is a concern, especially in coastal waters. A 2011 study found high levels of PFAS near the causeway connecting Singapore and the Malay Peninsula across the Johor Strait, where an industrial wastewater treatment plant discharged its effluent. In 2017, another study suggested that Malaysia might be a source of PFAS pollution in the South China Sea.
Additionally, a new study has been conducted to investigate the concentration of PFAs in Malaysian food. Approximately 18 endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), including PFAS, bisphenol, and paraben, were extracted from 9 different types of food samples to determine their concentrations, which were then used to assess health risks. The food categories are canned food, canned drinks, dairy products, fruits, vegetables, fish, seafood, commercial eggs, and conventional eggs. The samples, all of Malaysian origin, were randomly collected from several retail grocery stores and markets in the Selangor area between August and October 2021.
The results from the sample analysis revealed that free-range chicken eggs had the highest mean concentration of total PFAS (7.19 ng/g), followed by canned foods (5.18 ng/g), fish (1.87 ng/g), fruits (0.75 ng/g), seafood (0.73 ng/g), and dairy product (0.62 ng/g), while PFAS were not detected in canned drinks, vegetables, as well as commercial egg samples. Nearly every canned food sample contained PFAS, with concentrations 4-20 times higher than those in other food samples.
These results underscore the need for further investigation into the sources of PFAS contamination in food and the potential health risks posed to consumers. The study also calls for stricter regulations and monitoring to limit exposure to these harmful chemicals in the Malaysian food supply.
IPEN’s Study Findings on PFAS in Clothing
The use of fluorinated organic compounds (PFAS) is widespread across many industrial and domestic applications, including textiles. In fact, PFAS use in the textile sector accounts for about 50% of the total global use. Textile manufacturers utilise the oil- and water-resistant properties of PFAS to produce stain- and rain-proof materials.
According to a study, over 8,000 synthetic chemicals are used to produce garments, many of which are classified by the WHO as moderately to extremely hazardous and are linked to cancers, birth defects, and reproductive problems. Among these chemicals are perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs), the same materials used in Teflon cooking products, which give fabrics a no-iron quality.
International Pollutants Elimination Network (IPEN), with Arnika which is a Czech non-profit organization that has been uniting people striving for a better environment and along with other contributors have collaborated on a study investigating toxins found in clothing.
In this study, jackets and other clothing sold as water- or stain-resistant were purchased from 13 countries in Asia, Africa, Europe, and North America. A total of 16 items of clothing were tested, including aprons, T-shirts, swimsuits, a raincoat, a hijab, and trousers. Testing showed that 11 of the 16 samples (68.8%) contained PFAS or had Extractable Organic Fluorines (EOF) levels indicating the presence of PFAS.
Clearly, a wide range of PFAS is frequently used in textiles, as shown by the studies that identified several PFAS in textile products. These include fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOHs), fluorotelomer (met)acrylates (FTACs/FMACs), perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids (PFCAs), fluorotelomer carboxylic acids (FTCAs), perfluoroalkane sulfonic acids (PFSAs), fluorotelomer sulfonic acids (FTSAs), and PFAS derivatives (e.g., sulfonamide, sulfonamidoethanol).
The use of PFAS in textiles and outdoor wear increases both environmental pollution and human exposure, as PFAS are emitted to the environment at every stage of the textile product’s life cycle (i.e., during production, use, and final disposal).
Ban PFAS Chemicals as a Class
As PFAS have been associated with a wide range of negative environmental and health effects, their wide usage creates a challenge in relation to the circular economy. When PFAS-treated products are recycled, PFAS can spread uncontrollably and contaminate new products, extending the toxic legacy of these chemicals and undermining the ability to transition to a clean circular economy.
We need to stop the global PFAS contamination and avert a global human rights disaster. To safeguard the health of workers, women, and children, CAP together with other public interest groups propose that countries address PFAS chemicals as a class and ban them altogether. This will reduce the prospect of replacing one toxic type of PFAS with another.
References:
Haron, D. E. M., Yoneda, M., Ahmad, E. D., & Aziz, M. Y. (2023). PFAS, bisphenol, and paraben in Malaysian food and estimated dietary intake. Food Additives and Contaminants Part B, 16(2), 161–175.
https://doi.org/10.1080/19393210.2023.2188611
Malaysia PFAS situation report | Consumers’ Association of Penang. (2019, March). IPEN.
https://ipen.org/sites/default/files/documents/malaysia_pfas_country_situation_report_mar_2019.pdf
PFOA, PFOS, and related Pfas Chemicals. (n.d.). American Cancer Society.
https://www.cancer.org/cancer/risk-prevention/chemicals/teflon-and-perfluorooctanoic-acid-pfoa.html
Straková , J., Grechko, V., Brosché , S., Karlsson, T., & Buonsante, V. (2022). PFAS in Clothing: Study in Indonesia, China, and Russia Shows Barriers for Non-toxic Circular Economy. IPEN (International Pollutants Elimination Network).
https://ipen.org/sites/default/files/documents/ipen-pfas-2021-v1_6w.pdf
Straková, J., Brosché, S., Brabcová, K. (2023, November). Toxics in our Clothing: Forever Chemicals in Jackets and Clothing from 13 Countries. IPEN.
https://ipen.org/sites/default/files/documents/clothing-chemicals-v12.pdf
Straková, J., Brosché, S., Grechko, V. (2023, December). Forever Chemicals in Single-use Food Packaging and Tableware from 17 Countries. IPEN. 57p.
https://ipen.org/sites/default/files/documents/ipen-packaging-report-fin-opr-25012024.pdf
The global PFAS problem: Fluorine-free alternatives as solutions. (2019). IPEN.
https://ipen.org/sites/default/files/documents/global_pfas_exec-sum_en.pdf