46 | April 2022
ASK MOM DETECTIVE: What's Being Done About
PFAS Chemicals?
By Amy Ziff
QUESTION from Timothy, Gardiner, MA: What is cur-
rently being done at the federal and state level to outlaw
PFAS (forever chemicals)?
MOM DETECTIVE ANSWER: Thank you for your import-
ant question regarding PFAS (per and poly fluoroalkyl
chemicals). As you note, they are often called "forever"
chemicals, since these are manmade chemicals that
have no capacity to breakdown in our bodies or the en-
vironment. PFAS chemicals live on, polluting forever!
Given what we know about PFAS, I do hope our gov-
ernment and industry are paying attention, taking pause,
and working to curb and control their use. I can imagine
a lot of people might wonder if there ever is a justification
for the use of a toxic chemical. I would argue not, but
admittedly, I'm a purist when it comes to harmful chemi-
cals. In this case, there is certainly a reason to regulate.
PFAS BACKGROUND: PFAS are a class of chemicals
that includes more than 5,000 individual chemicals with
similar properties.
Even if you can't pronounce the chemical names, they're
likely found in your home and even in your bloodstream.
Why? Because they're commonly found in stain-resistant
carpets and upholstery, non-stick cookware, and even ap-
parel. PFAS chemicals are used in sporting goods, camp-
ing gear, and rain and winter gear, as water-repellants.
These chemicals are grease-proof, so they are used in
food wrappings and food container linings–pizza boxes,
butter wrappers, fast-food wraps, microwavable popcorn
containers, and more.
This stuff is even used in coated dental floss to help it
slide through your teeth. Honestly, this is a hard one for me
to swallow. When you are doing what the dentist recom-
mends for ultimate oral health and yet you are getting an
inadvertent dose of PFAS directly into your bloodstream!
PFAS chemicals are also used industrially where there's
massive contamination in firefighting foam, aeronautics and
aerospace materials, automotive manufacturing, and used
for military purposes. PFAS are also found in numerous
common electronics.
The problem with the proliferation of PFAS chemicals is
that now most drinking water, no matter where you live, is
likely contaminated by them.
The NIEHS states that these chemicals are linked to pos-
sible adverse impacts on health, pregnancy, and the immune
system. The chemicals have been linked to potential cogni-
tive impact in children and neurobehavioral deficits including
loss of IQ.
It's still early in the assessments of PFAS to evaluate all
the consequences of these chemicals, but we know enough
now to take action on PFAS.
WHAT'S HAPPENING TO LIMIT PFAS? Last year, the
House of Representatives passed an act that would require
EPA to designate some of these substances as hazardous
and begin to clean up PFAS chemicals. H.R. 2467, is known
as the PFAS Action Act of 2021, and was introduced by
Representative Debbie Dingell, from Michigan. This is just
