What are PFAS & Why Should We Care?

PFAS stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. There are over 14,000 individual chemicals in this class, and they are used in tens of thousands of places in society - some arguably useful, and others not as much (like in waterproof mascara).

The strong chlorine-fluorine bonds in these molecules make them very resistant to degradation, which is why they are dubbed "forever chemicals". Once they are in the environment, they will be there for decades, if not centuries.

It's estimated that 99% of people have PFAS in their bodies. Research has linked exposure to PFAS chemicals to health effects like:

-Increases in cholesterol levels

-Changes in liver enzymes

-Small decreases in birth weight

-Lower antibody response to some vaccines

-Pregnancy-induced hypertension and preeclampsia

-Kidney and testicular cancer

-Thyroid disease and more…

Just a few of the recent headlines include discussions of PFAS in menstrual care products, synthetic turf, food, yoga pants, and seafood. They've been linked to cardiovascular disease,? cancer (including thyroid cancer), immune system impairment, increased risk of overweight and obesity, and more.

Overwhelming

These headlines can be overwhelming and anxiety-producing, especially for those of us who are dealing with chronic health issues and trying to safeguard our health and the health of our families.

Overwhelm can lead to 3 different reactions:

1 Panicking and stressing out about every single potential exposure

2 Being concerned and open to learning how to lower exposure

3 Not caring at all, or shrugging and saying “We're all going to die anyway!"

Folks who have the third reaction aren't likely to read this article. People in the other groups can benefit from this information and additional support in minimizing PFAS exposure.

For any of you who feel panicked, anxious, or stressed about every single headline or potential source of PFAS exposure:

1 No single wearing of yoga pants that might have PFAS will harm you. For PFAS and all other toxicants, our bigger concern will always be chronic exposure over the long term—as in years.

2 It is impossible to avoid all exposures to PFAS, mostly because of how omnipresent they are, and the fact that we're still learning where PFAS are showing up. Nevertheless, there is still good reason to avoid exposures that we know about.

3 Most anxiety and overwhelm comes from not knowing what actions to take. Shifting into taking action automatically makes us feel more empowered!

Steps to minimize PFAS exposure

Perhaps you will not be able to do all of these things, but start doing what you can:

? Avoid use of non-stick cookware

? Avoid microwave popcorn and other greaseproof paper & paperboard food packaging (pizza boxes, takeout containers, fast food packaging)

? Avoid (to the best of your ability) clothes that are "water-resistant" or "stain-resistant"

? Avoid personal care products with any ingredients with 'fluoro' in the name, or that are waterproof (like waterproof mascara)

? Filter drinking water (multistage carbon filters or reverse osmosis)

? Avoid buying stain-resistant clothing, carpeting and furniture

? If affordable, purchase a vacuum with a HEPA filter to capture PFAS in the dust

You don't need to do all of these things at once. Pick one thing to swap or change. Once you have done that, move on to another.

I hope this guidance is helpful. If you would like to discuss how to minimize PFAS and other everyday toxins and optimize your health and wellness, schedule a strategy call with me here: https://calendly.com/planworkplacewellness/zoommeeting

Subscribe to my biweekly newsletter "Detox Your Life.": https://www.marcikenon.com/subscribe

Sign up for my FREE virtual masterclass “7 Steps to Reduce Your Daily Toxin Exposure & Maximize Your Health”: https://www.marcikenon.com