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10 Tips For Avoiding PFAS In Your Home

Sophie

Although PFAS can be harmful to our health, they can be found in a many products. Here are 10 tips for avoiding forever chemicals in your home.

Two years ago I wrote an article about the health and environmental issues linked to PFAS.

Unsurprisingly, I didn’t want my children exposed to these “forever chemicals,” so I actively started avoiding and reducing them in my home.

PFAS are useful so they can be found in a variety of products and materials.

While it’s impossible to avoid them completely, it can be beneficial to reduce them (the more people we can encourage to take action, the easier it will be to protect our water).

I know many of you are worried about PFAS and want to create a more non-toxic home to protect your family’s health. So I’ve put together 10 tips to help you reduce your exposure and avoid the products which contain the most PFAS.


My goal is to make sustainable living easier for you by doing all the research. This blog posts contain affiliate links to eco-conscious products at no extra cost to you.

What are PFAS?

(Per- or poly-fluorinated alkyl substances)

PFAS are chemicals used to make things water-resistant, non-stick, and stain-proof. They are found in lots of everyday products.

The problem? They don’t break down easily and can build up in your body and the environment. Some studies link them to health problems.

So, let’s talk about how to keep them out of your home!



1. Dust and Vacuum

PFAS stick to dust particles so the more dust you have in your home, the more likely there are ‘forever chemicals’ in the air you breathe.

SOLUTION: Use a vacuum with a HEPA filter and dust with a damp cloth to trap particles instead of spreading them around.

A HEPA filter is a type of air filter that can remove at least 99.97% of airborne particles. HEPA stands for "high-efficiency particulate air".


WHICH vacuumS HAVE HEPA FILTERS?

UK:

USA:



2. Get a Water Filter That Removes PFAS

PFAS have found their way into drinking water all over the world, including the USA, the UK, and the EU.

SOLUTION: Get a water filter that reduces or removes PFAS in your tap water.

Some water filters remove minerals, you may want to add these back in for health reasons.

Which type of water filter removes PFAS?

In 2020, a study looked at 89 water filters in people’s homes and assessed their abilities to remove PFAS. It was discovered that reverse osmosis systems were the most effective at removing Poly and Perfluoroalkyl Substances.

Unfortunately, reverse osmosis systems are expensive and under-the-sink options require drilling.

I’m just putting the final touches on a guide to help you reduce PFAS in your water. It is aimed at those of you who rent or have a smaller budget.


Which water filters reduce or remove PFAS?

UK:

USA:




3. Swap to Non-Toxic Cookware

You may prefer non-stick pans as they are more convenient, but when they get heated or scratched, they can leach PFAS, BPA, and heavy metals into your food.

SOLUTION: Switch to stainless steel, cast iron, or ceramic cookware instead.

Some brands are developing a non-stick coating that is free from PFAS, however, they will not share the formula so it is hard to know if it’s completely non-toxic.

This may be a better option for people who need non-stick.


The issues with Teflon

Teflon is a trademarked name for PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) which is made from several hazardous PFAS.

Teflon pollutes the air, water, and soil during manufacturing, often in Asian countries where labour rights are worse.

It leaches PFAS into our food and down the drain when we clean them, polluting our water, soil, agriculture (via sewage sludge fertiliser), and wildlife.


Misleading PFAS claims on non-stick cookware

Brands can be misleading when describing the coating on their cookware. Sometimes they say “PFOA-free” while hiding the fact the pan contains different PFAS.


SAFER COOKWARE without pfas:

Please note that these brands have not been third-party tested against PFAS, they either have no non-stick coating or claim to not use any PFAS in their products.

UK:

USA:


4. Choose PFAS-Free Bakeware

Parchment paper, cupcake cases, and muffin tins are coated with PFAS to prevent baked goods from sticking.

SOLUTION: Opt for glass, stainless steel, or silicone alternatives to keep your treats forever chemical-free.

SAFER BAKING PRODUCTS:

UK:

USA:



5. Avoid Pesticides in food

Fluorinated pesticides are a type of pesticide that contains PFAS. In 2022, the UK government’s testing program found 10 different fluorinated pesticides in fruits, vegetables, and spices.

SOLUTION: While it’s almost impossible to avoid PFAS in our food, we can reduce our exposure to fluorinated pesticides by opting for organic food. Choosing local and seasonal food will also reduce the need for pesticides.

Is organic food PFAS-free?

Organic food is grown without fluorinated pesticides meaning there is a smaller chance of PFAS contamination. Unfortunately, this does not mean organic food is PFAS-free. PFAS have been found in organic food from soil and water.


See this content in the original post

Does meat and dairy contain PFAS?

PFAS can build up in livestock because of PFAS in the animal’s food and water. This is worse on farms that use sewage sludge as fertiliser.

Reduce your exposure to PFAS in animal products by:

  • Choosing unprocessed meat with less packaging as it will have had less exposure to chemicals.

  • Opt for organic meat if you can afford to. The animals raised will be less exposed to PFAS from pesticides, feed, and soil.

  • Ask about pesticides and sewage sludge fertilisers at your local farm.


6. Grow Your Own Food

87% of the sewage sludge we produce in the UK is used as fertiliser for our agricultural soil and there is currently no requirement to monitor or remove many pollutants, including PFAS. This makes it extremely difficult to avoid PFAS in our food.

SOLUTION: Consider growing your own food. If you’re not green-fingered, start small and choose something easy like strawberries. 95% of strawberries in the UK contain fluorinated pesticide residues.

Which fruit and veg have the most PFAS

Unsure what to try and grow yourself? The following fruits and vegetables contained the most fluorinated pesticide residues:

  1. Strawberries

  2. Grapes

  3. Cherries

  4. Spinach

  5. Tomatoes

  6. Peaches

Read more at Pesticide Action Network UK



7. Eat fewer Takeaways

A 2021 study found that takeaways in the EU and UK are using PFAS in disposable food packaging.

While some items, like paper bags, get treated with PFAS to stop grease leaking through, other packaging, like UK pizza boxes, were found to be contaminated during manufacturing.

(Note that paper bags had significantly higher amounts of PFAS than pizza boxes)

SOLUTION: look for a takeaway that let’s you bring your own packaging. You could try to recreate your favourite takeaways at home with fresh ingredients. You could also freeze portions in advance for those days when you don’t fancy cooking.

Which takeaway packaging has the most PFAS?

USA

A Consumer Report investigation in the US tested over 100 types of packaging from restaurants and fast food chains and found the worst culprits for PFAS were the paper bags that fries and cookies come in.

Some of the brands with the highest PFAS in paper were:

  • Mcdonalds (fries)

  • Burger King (cookies)

  • Chick-fil-A (sandwich wrap wrapper)

  • Taco Bell (chips)

  • Nathan’s (sides)


UK

A 2021 study found the following UK brands added PFAS to their takeaway paper bags:

  • Mcdonalds

  • Pret A Manger

  • Subway

  • Co-op

  • Greggs

(Source: Chem Trust 2021)


8. Avoid PFAS in your cosmetics

I hate to be the bearer of bad news but cosmetics is one area riddled with PFAS. Scientists tested more than 200 makeup products and found:

  • 82% of waterproof mascara had high levels of PFAS

  • 47% of all mascaras had high levels of PFAS

  • 63% of foundations had high levels of PFAS

  • 62% of all lip products had high levels of PFAS

This is concerning as PFAS can be absorbed through the skin.

SOLUTION: Avoid products with “fluoro” or “perfluoro” on the ingredients list. It is often in the middle of a word. To avoid contamination, look for handmade, natural products that aren’t made on machinery.


HOW DO PFAS GET INTO COSMETICS?

One challenge in the beauty industry is that manufacturing equipment used in factories has been coated with Teflon (PTFE), which then leaches into the products.

The only true way to know if factory-produced makeup is PFAS-free is if it has been tested, but currently, very few brands are checking because many people are unaware of the issue.



9. Sleep on a non-toxic mattress

If you use a search engine and look up “mattress with Teflon,” you will quickly realise that lots of mattresses contain PFAS. They are included for their waterproofing or stain-resistant coatings.

SOLUTION: Avoid mattresses marketed as water or stain-resistant. The healthiest mattresses contain natural materials, like wool. Organic certifications, like GOTS, also back up a company’s “non-toxic” claims.

PFAS and bedding

A US study on textiles by Toxic-Free Future found that 69% of bedding tested contained PFAS. 61% contained old PFAS that have been banned in places like the EU.

They also found items claiming to be water or stain-resistant but did not contain PFAS. This shows there are alternatives to PFAS already being used.

Here are some more articles on non-toxic mattresses:

See this gallery in the original post

10. Find alternatives to clothing that contains PFAS

With all the issues fast fashion brings, it’s not surprising that it’s also contaminated with PFAS. Outerwear is the worst culprit due to items like coats needing to be waterproof. PFAS have also been found in underwear, activewear, school uniforms, and even period underwear.

SOLUTION: Avoid clothing that is labelled stain-resistant, wrinkle-resistant, Teflon-coated, or waterproof. Checkout ethical outerwear brands have been working to replace PFAS in their coats, shoes, and bags. Clothing certified by Oeko-Tex or GOTS means it’s been made without or been tested for harmful chemicals.

Avoiding PFAS completely is tough, but if we all begin to make small changes and campaign for better regulations, it can make a big difference.

Start with the easiest swaps and work your way up. If something is too difficult, move on to the next thing. There’s no point in letting yourself get stressed out over something you can’t control.

Every step you take reduces your exposure and helps create a healthier home for you and your family.

Which product guide would you like me to cover next?


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