But while these products can be very useful to us, the chemicals they contain have a darker side. Research has shown that they’re linked to health problems, including cancer. And one recent study even suggested that in utero exposure to forever chemicals can affect a man’s sperm count and quality later in life.
Here’s what you should know about them.
What are forever chemicals?
Forever chemicals are a class of chemicals collectively known as per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS), which were first introduced in the 1940s.
Their high thermal and chemical stability, coupled with their ability to repel grease and water, make these chemicals uniquely suited for a variety of engineering and commercial uses. As such, they can be found in many consumer products, such as makeup, fire extinguishers, fast food wrapping, textiles, stain repellents and electronics. The actual number of PFAS in circulation worldwide has yet to be defined – though according to some resources, this number is well over 4,700 chemicals.
The reason PFAS are called forever chemicals is because they persist in the environment for decades. For example, it would take approximately 400 years to break down just 500 mg (roughly the equivalent of a paracetamol tablet) of a type of forever chemical called perfluorooctane sulphonic acid (PFOS). This chemical was once used as a spray-on stain repellent for textiles. The same amount of another forever chemical known as perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) would take 800 years to break down. This chemical was used in the manufacture of non-stick pans.
Given that PFAS are used in so many everyday items, it also means they can find their way into the sewage system during washing, or into landfill after disposal – which may allow them to eventually end up in rivers. They’re also known to accumulate in plants and animals as they move through the food chain, so they may end up in the foods we eat including milk and eggs.
For instance, research from 2014 and 2019 showed traces of PFOA and PFOS – which have not been commercially produced in Europe for over a decade – were still present in most rivers, lakes and ground water in the UK. In 2021, PFOS was also detected in drinking water in Cambridgeshire. The source of the contamination was not clear, but may have been from historic use of firefighting foam from an airfield nearby.
These pollutants have even been found in formerly pristine parts of the world, far from where they were manufactured or used. This has created an immense environmental challenge which does not respect national boundaries. And due to their extreme persistence, these pollutants are likely to adversely affect future generations.
Just as PFAS take a long time to break down in the environment, forever chemicals can also stay within our bodies for a long time – possibly even decades. They may also accumulate in our body the more we come into contact with them.
Research shows that PFAS are implicated in many different diseases, with studies linking them to testicular and kidney cancer, thyroid problems, obesity, reproductive disorders and developmental issues in the foetus. They may also raise cholesterol levels, act as immunosuppressants and lower the effectiveness of vaccines. Research has also shown that PFAS has been detected in umbilical cords.
Only two PFAS have been banned in Europe so far. But six more are currently under review – including chemicals used in insecticides and paints – because of their health risks.
However, even if we could collect all the PFAS pollution in the world, there’s no way to safely dispose of them. These pollutants are not biodegradable and thermally very stable. Even at the high temperatures of incineration they break down to toxic and corrosive substances or fluorocarbons which are potent greenhouse gases and their disposal would need to be carefully monitored. This makes regulation of these chemicals even more important than it already is.
As consumers, we can reduce the amount of forever chemicals reaching the environment (and our bodies) by trying to purchase products which are free from forever chemicals. Before purchasing waterproof or stain resistant textiles, read the label to make sure they haven’t been treated with PFAS. Better yet, look for products labelled as free from PFC, PFOS, and PFOA. Also take care to examine items such as fast food wrapping, cosmetics and dental floss for these ingredients. If you still aren’t sure what to look out for, you can also check online using this resource which can tell you which everyday products are free from forever chemicals.
About the author
Joanne Roberts, Research Fellow, Environmental Chemistry, Glasgow Caledonian University
Hata hivyo, ingawa bidhaa hizo zinaweza kutusaidia sana, kemikali zilizo ndani yake zina ubaya mwingine. Utafiti umeonyesha kwamba zina uhusiano na matatizo ya afya, kutia ndani kansa. Utafiti wa hivi karibuni unaonyesha kuwa kuathiriwa na kemikali za kemikali katika tumbo la uzazi kunaweza kuathiri idadi na ubora wa shahawa ya mtu baadaye maishani. Hapa ni nini unapaswa kujua kuhusu wao. Ni nini kemikali za milele? "Kama kemikali za kudumu, kemikali hizo zinajulikana kama ""per- na polyfluorinated alkyl substances"" (PFAS), ambazo zilianzishwa kwa mara ya kwanza katika miaka ya 1940." Uwezo wao wa juu wa joto na kemikali, pamoja na uwezo wao wa kukataa mafuta na maji, hufanya kemikali hizi ziwe bora kwa matumizi mbalimbali ya uhandisi na kibiashara. Kama vile, zinaweza kupatikana katika bidhaa nyingi za watumiaji, kama vile vipodozi, kuzima moto, kufunga chakula cha haraka, nguo, dawa za kuzuia madoa na vifaa vya elektroniki. Idadi halisi ya PFAS zinazozunguka ulimwenguni bado haijafafanuliwa, ingawa kulingana na vyanzo fulani, idadi hii ni zaidi ya kemikali 4,700. PFAS ni kemikali ya kudumu kwa sababu huendelea katika mazingira kwa miongo mingi. Kwa mfano, ingechukua miaka 400 hivi kuharibu mg 500 tu (karibu sawa na kidonge cha paracetamol) ya aina ya kemikali inayoitwa perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS). Wakati mmoja kemikali hiyo ilitumiwa kama dawa ya kuondoa madoa kwenye vitambaa. Kwa mfano, kemikali nyingine inayoitwa perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) inaweza kuharibika kwa miaka 800. Kemikali hiyo ilitumiwa kutengeneza sufuria zisizoweza kushikamana. Kwa kuwa PFAS hutumiwa katika vitu vingi vya kila siku, pia inamaanisha wanaweza kupata njia yao katika mfumo wa maji machafu wakati wa kuosha, au katika mahali pa kuondoa taka baada ya kuondolewa - ambayo inaweza kuruhusu mwishowe kuishia katika mito. Pia zinajulikana kukusanywa katika mimea na wanyama wanaposonga kupitia mlolongo wa chakula, kwa hivyo zinaweza kuishia katika vyakula tunavyokula pamoja na maziwa na mayai. Kwa mfano, utafiti kutoka 2014 na 2019 ulionyesha alama za PFOA na PFOS ambazo hazijawahi kutengenezwa kibiashara huko Ulaya kwa zaidi ya miaka kumi bado zilikuwapo katika mito, maziwa na maji ya chini ya ardhi nchini Uingereza. PFOS iligunduliwa katika maji ya kunywa huko Cambridgeshire Chanzo cha uchafuzi huo hakijulikani, lakini huenda kilitokana na matumizi ya zamani ya povu ya kuzima moto kutoka uwanja wa ndege ulio karibu. Machafuko hayo yamepatikana hata katika sehemu za ulimwengu zilizokuwa safi, mbali na mahali ambapo yalitengenezwa au kutumiwa. Hii imesababisha changamoto kubwa ya mazingira ambayo haiheshimu mipaka ya kitaifa. Na kwa sababu ya udumu wao mkubwa, uchafuzi huu una uwezekano wa kuathiri vibaya vizazi vijavyo. Kama vile PFAS inachukua muda mrefu kuvunjika katika mazingira, kemikali za milele zinaweza pia kubaki ndani ya miili yetu kwa muda mrefu - labda hata miongo. Pia, huenda zikajilimbikizia mwilini mwetu kadiri tunavyowasiliana nazo. Utafiti unaonyesha kuwa PFAS zinahusika katika magonjwa mengi tofauti, na masomo yanawaunganisha na saratani ya testicular na figo, matatizo ya tezi, unene wa mafuta, matatizo ya uzazi na matatizo ya maendeleo katika kijusi. Pia zinaweza kuongeza viwango vya kolesteroli, kutenda kama immunosuppressants na kupunguza ufanisi wa chanjo. Utafiti pia umeonyesha kwamba PFAS imegunduliwa katika kamba za umbilical. Ni PFAS mbili tu ambazo zimepigwa marufuku huko Ulaya hadi sasa. Lakini nyingine sita ziko chini ya uchunguzi kwa sasa - kutia ndani kemikali zinazotumiwa katika dawa za kuua wadudu na rangi - kwa sababu ya hatari zao kwa afya. Hata hivyo, hata kama tunaweza kukusanya uchafuzi wote wa PFAS ulimwenguni, hakuna njia ya kuondoa kwa usalama. Vichocheo hivi haviwezi kuharibiwa na viumbe na ni thabiti sana kwa joto. Hata katika joto la juu la kuchoma, huvunjika kuwa vitu vyenye sumu na vyenye kuharibu au fluorocarbons ambazo ni gesi zenye nguvu za chafu na kuondolewa kwao kunahitaji kufuatiliwa kwa uangalifu. Hii inafanya udhibiti wa kemikali hizi hata muhimu zaidi kuliko ilivyo tayari. Kama watumiaji, tunaweza kupunguza kiasi cha kemikali za milele zinazofikia mazingira (na miili yetu) kwa kujaribu kununua bidhaa ambazo hazina kemikali za milele. Kabla ya kununua nguo zisizoweza kuharibiwa na maji au zisizoweza kuharibika, soma lebo ili uhakikishe kwamba hazijatibiwa na PFAS. "Kwa mfano, unaweza kuchagua bidhaa ambazo hazina PFC, PFOS, au PFOA.""" Pia, angalia vipande vya chakula cha haraka, vipande vya vipodozi, na nyuzi za meno ili uone ikiwa zina viungo hivyo. Kama bado si uhakika nini kuangalia nje kwa, unaweza pia kuangalia online kwa kutumia rasilimali hii ambayo inaweza kukuambia ambayo bidhaa za kila siku ni bure kutoka kemikali milele. Kuhusu mwandishi Joanne Roberts, Mtafiti Mshiriki, Kemia ya Mazingira, Chuo Kikuu cha Glasgow Caledonian