They're in your drinking water, your frying pan, your rain jacket, and possibly your dental floss. "Forever chemicals" — the informal name for a class of synthetic compounds known as PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) — have become one of the most pervasive environmental health concerns of our time. And the reason they've earned such an ominous nickname is simple: they don't break down. Not in the environment. Not in your body.
PFAS were first developed in the 1940s and quickly became prized by manufacturers for their remarkable ability to repel water, oil, and heat. They were woven into the fabric of modern convenience — nonstick cookware, waterproof clothing, fast food wrappers, firefighting foam, and stain-resistant carpeting. For decades, their risks were poorly understood or quietly suppressed. Today, the science is catching up, and the picture isn't pretty.
Exposure to PFAS has been linked to a range of serious health problems, including certain cancers (particularly kidney and testicular cancer), thyroid disease, immune system disruption, fertility issues, high cholesterol, and developmental problems in children. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that PFAS can be detected in the blood of nearly all Americans. These chemicals accumulate over time, which means every source of exposure — however small — adds to your body's total burden.
The good news is that you have more control than you might think. You can't eliminate PFAS exposure entirely in the modern world, but a series of informed choices can meaningfully reduce the amount that enters your body and your home. Here's where to start.
1. Filter Your Drinking Water
Water is one of the most significant — and most controllable — sources of PFAS exposure. Contamination has been detected in public water supplies and private wells across the country, often near industrial sites, military bases, or airports where firefighting foam containing PFAS was used for decades.
The first step is knowing what's in your water. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) maintains a tap water database (ewg.org/tapwater) where you can look up your zip code and see what contaminants have been detected in your local supply. If you have a private well, testing is especially important since it falls outside of public utility monitoring.
When it comes to filtration, not all filters are created equal. Standard pitcher filters like basic Brita models do very little to remove PFAS. The two most effective options are:
- Reverse osmosis (RO) systems are the gold standard and can remove upwards of 90% of PFAS from water. Under-sink RO systems are the most practical for home use.
- Activated carbon block filters, which are less effective than RO but can still significantly reduce PFAS levels when used correctly. Look for filters certified to NSF/ANSI Standard 58 (for RO) or Standard 53 (for carbon filters).
Avoid boiling water as a solution — it does not remove PFAS and can actually concentrate them as water evaporates.
2. Rethink Your Cookware
Nonstick cookware revolutionized home cooking, but the same coating that keeps your eggs from sticking — polytetrafluoroethylene, better known as Teflon — is a PFAS compound. When nonstick pans are overheated or scratched, they can release PFAS particles and fumes directly into your food and the air in your kitchen.
The fix here is straightforward: replace nonstick pans with safer alternatives. The best options include:
- Cast iron is naturally nonstick when properly seasoned, extremely durable, and inexpensive.
- Stainless steel, which is versatile and long-lasting, though it requires a bit more technique to prevent sticking.
- Ceramic-coated cookware, which offers a nonstick surface without PFAS, though the coating is less durable and should be replaced when chipped or worn.
If you're not ready to replace all your cookware at once, at a minimum, avoid using nonstick pans on high heat and discard any pan whose coating is visibly scratched or peeling.
3. Change How You Buy and Store Food
PFAS are used extensively in food packaging — particularly anything designed to be grease-resistant. That includes the bags used for microwave popcorn, fast food wrappers and boxes, pizza boxes, and the liners inside some paper cups. When hot or greasy food sits in these containers, PFAS can migrate directly into what you're eating.
To reduce your exposure:
- Cook at home more often and use food containers made from glass, stainless steel, or PFAS-free silicone for storage.
- Avoid microwave popcorn and make your own on the stovetop instead — it takes about the same amount of time and tastes better.
- Limit fast food and takeout, or transfer food to your own containers as quickly as possible when you do get it.
- Replace plastic food storage containers with glass alternatives, especially for storing hot foods or anything you plan to microwave.
4. Check Your Stain-Resistant and Waterproof Products
One of the most widespread — and least obvious — sources of PFAS in the home is stain-resistant and water-repellent treatments applied to textiles and surfaces. Carpets, upholstered furniture, and outdoor clothing marketed as "waterproof" or "stain-resistant" are frequently treated with PFAS-based coatings. Children who spend time playing on treated carpets are at particular risk since they're closer to the floor and more likely to put their hands in their mouths.
Steps you can take:
- When buying new carpet or furniture, opt for products explicitly labeled PFAS-free and decline optional stain-protection treatments.
- For outdoor and athletic wear, look for brands that have committed to phasing out PFAS. Many outdoor gear companies — including Patagonia and others — have made public commitments to eliminate PFAS from their supply chains. Check the brand's website for its chemical policy.
- Wash new clothing before wearing it to reduce surface chemical residue, and wash outdoor gear less frequently to preserve the coating and slow its breakdown.
5. Reconsider Your Personal Care and Cleaning Products
PFAS have quietly found their way into the beauty aisle. They're used in cosmetics to improve texture, spreadability, and water resistance — meaning they show up frequently in waterproof mascara, foundation, lipstick, and setting sprays. Given that personal care products are applied directly to the skin, which can absorb chemicals into the bloodstream, this is a meaningful route of exposure.
Certain types of dental floss — particularly those with a slippery, glide-style coating — have also tested positive for PFAS.
To clean up your routine:
- Check your cosmetics using the EWG's Skin Deep database (ewg.org/skindeep), which rates products by ingredient safety. Avoid products containing ingredients with "fluoro" in the name.
- Switch to unwaxed dental floss or brands that explicitly certify they don't use PFAS coatings.
- Review your household cleaning sprays — some water- and stain-repellent sprays for furniture and fabric contain PFAS. Look for plant-based alternatives.
6. Be Aware of PFAS in Your Home Environment
Beyond the products you buy, the structure of your home itself can be a source of PFAS. Older carpets installed before manufacturers began phasing out certain PFAS treatments, some upholstered furniture, certain paints, and even some types of flooring can off-gas or shed PFAS particles into household dust, which is then inhaled or ingested, especially by children and pets.
Practical steps:
- Vacuum frequently using a vacuum with a HEPA filter, which is better at capturing fine particles than standard vacuums.
- Wet-mop hard floors rather than dry-sweeping, which can stir up and redistribute dust.
- Increase ventilation in your home by opening windows when the weather permits to dilute indoor air pollutants.
- Wash your hands regularly, particularly before eating, to reduce the amount of PFAS-laden dust that makes it from your hands to your mouth.
A Final Word: Progress, Not Perfection
It's easy to feel overwhelmed when you realize how thoroughly PFAS have infiltrated everyday life. The goal isn't a sterile, chemical-free existence — that's neither achievable nor worth the anxiety it would cost. The goal is to make smarter choices at the margins, in the areas where you have genuine leverage.
Start with water filtration — it's one of the highest-impact changes you can make. Then work your way through your kitchen, your personal care routine, and your home over time. Each swap you make reduces the cumulative load on your body, and cumulative load is exactly what matters with a class of chemicals that builds up rather than flushes out.
For ongoing guidance, the Environmental Working Group (ewg.org) is one of the most reliable resources for tracking PFAS in consumer products, water supplies, and food. Their databases are regularly updated as new research emerges.
You may not be able to opt out of the modern world, but you can navigate it more wisely — and that's a meaningful form of protection.
(featured image: Bluewater Sweden / Unsplash)
