Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have received increased attention recently due to their persistence in the environment and potential health risks. But PFAS has a history that dates back decades. They have morphed from being wonder chemicals to being the subject of multiple class action lawsuits. Here, we look at the origins and future of these notorious substances.
PFAS as a wonder chemical
The first PFAS compound, PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) was developed by 3M as a non-stick coating for cookware. This was the first of a new class of extremely stable synthetic compounds. These chemicals exhibit a range of useful properties, such as being non-stick, grease-resistant, waterproof, and heat resistant.
Over the decades, DuPont, 3M, and other major chemical manufacturers continued to develop and market new PFAS compounds. These found their way into a wide range of consumer products, fabrics, food packaging, and electronics. For firefighters, PFAS allowed their safety gear to be waterproof, grease resistant, and heatproof, as well as providing the basis for effective firefighting foams. In short, PFAS became indispensable.
By the 1980s, PFAS were everywhere. Their unique properties lent themselves to a huge range of consumer applications, such as waterproof and stainproof coatings for fabrics and carpets, non-stick coatings for pans, and greaseproof coatings for fast-food wrappers. However, in the 1990s researchers began to find environmental PFAS contamination in locations near manufacturing facilities. Health studies also identified elevated levels of PFOA in blood samples taken from people in communities exposed to PFAS. So, was the PFAS bubble about to burst?
The need for regulation
The health implications of PFAS contamination included links with cancer, thyroid disease, and immune system disruption. Yet, PFAS compounds were largely unregulated, and there had been few efforts to limit environmental pollution. But as scientific evidence mounted, the pressure for regulatory scrutiny increased. As a result, the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) issued health advisories for some PFAS including PFOA and PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate). The EPA followed this with a voluntary program to phase-out of PFOA and PFOS. In 2009, the European Union REACH regulation placed restrictions on certain PFAS due to their environmental impact.
Monitoring PFAS exposure
In the late 1990s, the CDC added numerous different PFAS compounds to their ongoing NHANES monitoring study. The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, or NHANES, is a nationwide biomonitoring program. This study has shown a steady drop in some legacy PFAS compounds over time as their use has declined.
PFAS alternatives
Over recent years, manufacturers have looked for alternative compounds that exhibit at least some of the properties that made PFAS so attractive. This led to so-called next-generation compounds like GenX. However, these compounds also have adverse environmental and health effects. So, chemical researchers continue to look for better and safer alternatives.
PFAS in 2024
PFAS has joined the long list of chemicals that have benefited industries and consumers in the short term, but proved damaging in the long term. Indeed, PFAS has become as infamous as asbestos. Manufacturers now go out of their way to let consumers know they aren’t using PFAS compounds in their products. Community groups are advocating for real accountability. There has been a realization that these compounds are damaging to human and animal health. Recently, the EPA defined enforceable limits on PFAS in drinking water in direct response to the growing concerns. As a result, PFAS remediation and detection have becomehot topics in research.
Hopefully, the legacy of PFAS will be improved corporate responsibility, better environmental stewardship, and greater caution around new “wonder chemicals”. However, that will only happen once we understand the true scale and impact of PFAS exposure.
