Manufacturers have woken up to the fact that consumers are worried about the health impact of PFAS. As a result, more and more products are advertised as “PFAS-free”. But can you trust these claims? Here we look at why PFAS became such a problem and what “PFAS-free” on a label might actually mean.
Why did PFAS become so widespread?
Before we delve into the topic of PFAS-free products it’s worth looking at why PFAS became so widely used in the first place. The first ever PFAS was discovered by accident way back in the 1930s. Initially, it was viewed as a bit of a chemical curiosity. But by the 1950s we began to see the first commercial applications. Initially, these were limited to two key traits of PFAS compounds:
- Non-stick, where foods and other compounds don’t adhere to surfaces made from PFAS
- Water-resistance, where water (and oil) beads up and runs off surfaces that have been coated with PFAS
PFAS compounds are pretty unique chemically, thanks to the fluorine-carbon bonds that define them. Over the decades, they have proved themselves invaluable thanks to their useful characteristics. As well as the above, these include:
- Breathable waterproof membranes
- Greaseproof coatings for food containers
- Low-friction, heat-resistant lubricants
- Heat and fire-resistant coatings for electronics
Moreover, they have been used in consumer products as diverse as cosmetics, clothing, and cookware.
Why is there a pushback against PFAS?
By the 1990s, PFAS use had become extremely widespread globally. But scientists began to spot a problem. PFAS compounds seemed to build up in the environment and there were almost no natural mechanisms helping to break them down. Moreover, evidence began to show that some PFAS could cause serious health problems for humans.
By the early 2000s, health concerns led to a moratorium on two of the oldest forms of PFAS: PFOS and PFOA. Both of these are now listed by the WHO as carcinogenic (PFOA is a proven carcinogen and PFOS suspected). Since then, research has linked other PFAS compounds with health effects as varied as cancer, dyslipidemia, premature birth, and ulcerative colitis.
What do companies mean when they say “PFAS-free”?
Over the last decade or so, public awareness has been growing about the potential dangers posed by PFAS. Chemical companies have been doing their best to counter this, much as tobacco companies tried to downplay the risks of smoking 50 years ago. However, companies selling to consumers have picked up on the concerns around PFAS. Consequently, we see more and more products labeled as “PFAS-free”. In general, these products fall into 3 categories.
They now use PFAS alternatives
Many products now use alternatives to replace PFAS. This began with manmade compounds such as “GenX” that were intended to replace PFOA. However, many of these compounds are actually PFAS in disguise. More genuine alternatives do exist though. Often, these are re-inventions of much older products. For example, the use of waxed paper in food packaging (as an alternative to PFAS-coated papers).
The product was re-engineered or re-designed
Some companies have made really big technical advancements to avoid using PFAS. A great example is in technical waterproof clothing. For years, this market has been dominated by GoreTex®, which was originally made using PFAS. Modern versions of these breathable waterproof membranes claim to be PFAS-free. But some companies have gone further, creating a completely new class of waterproof clothes that rely on wicking to remove water from the inside of the garment.
The term “PFAS-free” is just a marketing gimmick
The final category of “PFAS-free” products use it purely as a marketing term. That is because they are products that never contained PFAS in the first place. This is a common tactic among companies (just look at how many products get labeled “vegan” when they clearly have never contained animal products).
What next for PFAS and PFAS-free products?
PFAS will doubtless continue to be big business for chemical manufacturers. A number of US States have introduced legislation to ban or limit the use of PFAS. But nearly all the legislation targets specific compounds. There are actually thousands of PFAS or PFAS-like compounds, and so legislation is unlikely to eliminate their use.
There’s little doubt that companies will continue to promote PFAS-free products for some years to come. In some markets, the term “PFAS-free” may well become protected. But until then, if you are really worried about a product you use regularly, you can always get it tested for PFAS. Or you can look at tests and reviews done by sites like Mamavation.
