Perfluorinated Alkylated Substances (PFAS) and the Plastic Paradise that Turns Deadly.

Industrial creations, from food products and supplements to medicines and even medical devices, frequently infiltrate our lives before rigorous, long-term testing is ever done.

These chemicals often escape the regulatory scrutiny of medicines or supplements simply because we don’t ingest them.

Other times, the complexity of our bodies doesn’t allow us to see if a product is harmful until it’s too late.

The absence of evidence is not evidence of absence, and the newer the product, the higher the burden of proof it should bear before being fed, exposed to, or implanted into people.

There are simply too many examples throughout human history where we were wrong.

The two most common and well-studied plastic compounds are

• phthalates
• and bisphenols.

Generally speaking, bisphenols are used to make plastics hard, and phthalates are used to make plastics soft.

Bisphenols can be found in;

• furniture,
• baby bottles,
• the lining of cans,
• plastic cutlery,
• and writing utensils.
• Store receipts, the kind you can write on with your fingernail, are often covered with bisphenol.

Phthalates are usually found in;

• single-use plastic bottles,
• takeout containers,
• plastic storage containers,
• apparel,
• industrial tubing,
• and straws.
• Synthetic fragrances used in cleaning and personal care products are usually created using phthalates.

Of the bisphenols, bisphenol A (BPA) is the most well-known and is commonly associated with food packages and reusable water bottles.

Increasing consumer concerns around BPA have led many manufacturers to remove it from their products and label them “BPA-free,” but that doesn’t mean they are free from related compounds.

Some manufacturers are now using bisphenol S (BPS).

In the early 1900s, when researchers were looking for a hormone replacement that would alleviate menstrual cramps and symptoms of menopause and pregnancy (hot flashes and nausea, for example), and could be used in the prevention of miscarriages.

In the mid-1930s, a medical researcher at the University of London named Edward Charles Dodd’s discovered a candidate in a chemical that had been synthesized in Germany thirty years prior.

• It was bisphenol A, which seemed to mimic the female sex hormone oestrogen.
• An oestrogen replacement would add tremendous value to society.
• It would help alleviate the complaints of millions of women.
• For that purpose, BPA had almost seemed like a homemade miracle chemical until researchers discovered a far more powerful synthetic oestrogen called diethylstilbesterol, or DES.

Around the same time, it was discovered that BPA had an alternate use with serious commercial potential.

• It could be used as the chemical backbone for an inexpensive material that was almost as hard as steel and as clear as glass: plastic.
• DES was brought to market as a drug, and BPA was routed to manufacturing instead.
• In the decades that followed, these two chemicals went on to saturate our lives.
• DES was injected into millions of women, and plastics made with BPA exploded in the marketplace.
• We could suddenly fill our homes and lives with products of any size and type, and BPA made them inexpensive, easy to clean, shatterproof, and heat resistant.
• In product after product, market after market, plastics challenged traditional materials and won, taking the place of steel in cars, paper and glass in packaging, and wood in furniture.

But there was a problem,

Many compounds brought to the market were later revealed to be damaging to human health.

Some of history’s biggest failures include;

• lead-based paints,
• asbestos building insulation,
• and partially hydrogenated fats.

DES, the chemically similar sibling to BPA, had a comparable fate.

It initially appeared to be an exciting reproductive technology, but in the long run, DES had profound and damaging consequences for women.

For girls exposed while in their mothers’ wombs, DES dramatically increased the risk of uterine malformations and rare vaginal cancers.

DES was finally banned from use in 1971, but BPA persevered.

We now know that food and beverages stored in plastic made with BPA can leach this estrogenic compound.

It’s found in the dust created by our;

• carpets,
• electronics,
• and furniture.

It commonly coats those heat-sensitive store register receipts, entering our bodies through our skin and hand-to-mouth behaviour.

For these reasons, 93% of people now have measurable amounts of BPA in their urine, with higher levels found in obese people.

The figures for phthalates are no more heartening.

While our exposure to our dose is far lower than a syringe full of DES, BPA, like other endocrine disruptors, may be biologically active even at tiny doses.

The FDA argues that BPA is safe, but the Endocrine Society, which publishes the leading peer-reviewed journals for hormone science around the world, disagrees, insisting that policymakers have overlooked, or altogether ignored, low-dose toxicity effects.

It doesn’t help that BPA-testing standards haven’t been updated in over twenty years.

One thing is clear, and it should be noted that,

• The safest level of BPA or phthalate exposure is none.
• Yet trying to avoid these chemicals completely is bound to be a frustrating (and futile) effort.
• The good news is that thanks to our bodies’ detoxification pathways, these chemicals do not last very long once inside of us.
• Therefore, reducing your exposure to these fake oestrogen compounds is likely to have a meaningful impact as your system of hormones and receptors recalibrates.

Here are some guiding principles that might be of help:

• Never microwave or reheat food in plastic.

Heat accelerates the leaching of BPA and phthalates into your food, which is why you should never cook or store hot food in plastic. Always keep your plastic containers out of hot environments like your dishwasher, the sun, and your car.

• Minimize consumption of foods and beverages sold in plastic containers.

Drinking out of a plastic bottle or cup won’t kill you, but try to buy your liquids out of glass whenever possible. You don’t know how that plastic container was stored before ending up in your hands. It could have been sitting in a truck’s hot cargo bed for days, weeks, or even months! Minimize consumption of canned foods and drinks. The interior linings of cans are often made of BPA (yes, this includes canned beverages like sodas and seltzers). Removing all cans from your life won’t be practical, but if you can at least cut down, you’re ahead of the game. Acidic foods like tomatoes are especially likely to lead to leaching.

• Avoid sous vide cooking.

This method involves cooking your food in a plastic bag placed in boiling water. Many restaurants keep food warm using this method. Remember that even BPA-free bags contain alternative plasticizing chemicals, and there is no reason to believe that they are safe.

• Eat at home more often.

As a result of food prep and storage, restaurants are a major source of phthalates and bisphenols. A study of over ten thousand people found that adults who had eaten the most food away from home had, on average, 35% higher levels of phthalates in their blood the next day.5 Concentrations were higher (55%) for adolescents, probably due to greater fast-food consumption.

• Replace plastic storage containers with glass or ceramic.

Glass and ceramic cannot only be used to cook, but are easy to clean, dishwasher safe and look nicer. Don’t worry about the lids unless they come in contact with your food.

• Minimize the use of plastic cutlery, plates, and cups.

Not only will the environment appreciate it, but it will reduce exposure to plasticisers like BPA, phthalates, and styrene (an endocrine disruptor and carcinogen).

• Avoid fragranced products.

This includes most dish soaps, laundry detergents, fabric softeners and fresheners, deodorizers, and personal care products. Instead, look for fragrance-free products or products scented naturally with plant-based essential oils.

• Toss old containers.

Plastics degrade with time, so if you’ve had plastic containers sitting in your cupboards for years and they’re showing signs of wear and tear, it might serve you to toss them.

• Skip the receipt.

Unless it’s a major purchase, forgo the receipt. If you need it, wash your hands soon after. Always encourage children to do the same.

PLASTIC TEA BAG?

A Canadian research team found that steeping a single plastic tea bag released around 12 billion microplastic and 3 billion nanoplastic particles, yielding 16 micrograms of ingestible plastic per cup.

Opt for paper tea bags or loose-leaf brewing methods instead.

PERFLUORINATED ALKYLATED SUBSTANCES (PFASS)

• They are also utterly ubiquitous throughout the modern world.
• PFASs help repel oil and water, so waterproof clothing, carpeting, upholstery, car parts, sealants, food wrapping papers, firefighting foams, and cookware all exploit the seemingly magical chemical properties of PFAS chemicals.
• Unfortunately, these chemicals have been identified not just as potent endocrine disruptors, but as possible carcinogens.
• Animal studies have linked some PFASs with cancers, including kidney, prostate, rectal, and testicular.
• They have also been linked to liver and thyroid problems and abnormal foetal development.
• Studies have shown that people exposed to higher levels of PFAS chemicals have higher total and LDL cholesterol, and they may make it more difficult to keep weight off after losing weight.

These chemicals are commonly found in Fast food and processed snacks, which can confound such findings.

• While some of the most well-studied PFAS chemicals have been banned from use by the FDA, about 98% of all people still have detectable levels of PFASs in them, which means that we are likely still suffering their effects.
• Part of the reason for this is that PFAS chemicals linger in the body for years longer than phthalates and BPA.
• And despite the ban, this hasn’t kept manufacturers from finding chemically similar compounds to replace them with.
• Consumer awareness has led only to pacification as manufacturers hide newer (and often equally sketchy) chemicals from view.
• It is nearly impossible to eliminate your exposure to these chemicals today, and chronically stressing about them is not a viable solution for your health.
• Therefore, cutting down on exposure is a far more attainable goal and one that is less likely to drive you crazy in the process.

Here are some habits that will help:

• Toss-coated nonstick cookware.

The safest cookware to use is stainless steel (look for versions without nickel), cast iron, and ceramic. Some nonstick pans on the market claim to be PFAS-free, but the jury is still out on their safety.

• Avoid smooth dental tape.

Dental tape is made using PFAS, which allows it to easily slide between teeth. New research suggests that the PFAS chemicals in the tape are not inert; they can enter circulation and cause health problems. Use floss instead, which is also more effective at cleaning teeth due to its abrasive texture.

• Avoid stain-resistant carpets, rugs, and furniture.

Though stain resistance can be useful, the PFAS particles in these products can easily become airborne and permeate our bodies. Young children in particular have very high concentrations of these and other chemicals due to their proximity to the floor and frequent hand-to-mouth behaviour. Remember that children are particularly vulnerable to the effects of endocrine disruption.

• Avoid foods wrapped in paper with a slick inner lining.

These linings keep the papers oil-proof and are commonly used to wrap burgers, burritos, and other convenience foods. Do not store or reheat your food in these papers.

• Avoid waterproof products unless you really need them.

Instead, look for coats, hats, boots, and tents labelled “water resistant,” which are less likely to be treated with PFAS chemicals.

• Use a reverse osmosis water filter.

PFAS chemicals pose a substantial environmental threat, having been identified in drinking water all over the United States. By separating water from its contaminants, a reverse osmosis water filter can remove up to 90% of a wide range of PFAS chemicals.

Keep safe, do as much as possible to keep yourself away from these chemicals and also the environment.  

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